Following their golden successes in Tokyo this summer, Lauren Steadman, Jess Learmonth, Jonny Brownlee, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee have been named in the New Year Honour List.
Steadman, Learmonth, Brownlee, Taylor-Brown and Yee have all been awarded MBE for services to Triathlon.
Having finished second in Rio, Steadman went one better in Tokyo to claim gold in the female PTS5 classification. Ahead of the Paralympics, she also won gold at AJ Bell 2021 World Triathlon Para Series Leeds presented by Volvo and 2021 World Triathlon Para Cup A Coruna in what was a golden year for her.
Team GB’s mixed relay quartet of Learmonth, Brownlee, Taylor-Brown and Yee made history at the Olympics by becoming the first country to win mixed relay gold at the Olympic Games. The format made its debut in Japan, with the team gold adding to individual silver medals for Yee and Taylor-Brown.
Former international athlete, President of British Triathlon and Vice-President of ITU (now World Triathlon) Professor Sarah Springman has been awarded a damehood for services to Engineering and to International Sports Administration. Having previously received a CBE in 2012 for services to Sport, she now receives the title of Dame Commander.
Olympic champion from Bermuda, Flora Duffy, has also been made a dame for services to Sport in Bermuda. In Tokyo, she won her country’s first Olympic gold and the only athlete from a British Overseas Territory to win gold.
Across the list, 78 Olympians and Paralympians have been honoured for their services to sport, as well as multiple sporting icons outside of Tokyo 2020. The honours system also provides opportunity for local heroes to receive recognition for the work that they do for sport and physical activity in their community.
Speaking on the announcement of the New Year Honours, British Triathlon CEO, Andy Salmon, said:
“For the gold medallists from Tokyo to be recognised through the honours system shows the importance that sport plays in our society and how their successes can be felt across the nation, especially given what we’ve all been through over the past two years.
“Lauren and the mixed relay team demonstrated their commitment and excellence to come out on top this summer, with these honours a great way to celebrate their achievement on top of the medals they came home with.
“My sincere congratulations to everyone recognised in the New Year Honours and thank you to those making swim, bike, run an exciting and accessible sport.”
You can view the full list of honours by clicking on the link below.
