Full list of sporting stars recognised in 2024 New Year Honours List including Olympics heroes
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Former Wales and British Lions winger Gerald Davies was left “dumbstruck” learning about his knighthood. Davies, who also served as president of the Welsh Rugby Union, was recognised in the King’s New Year’s Honours for services to his sport and voluntary and charitable service in Wales. He represented his country between 1966 and 1978, winning three Grand Slams, while also touring twice with the Lions.
Davies, 79, said: “I feel very emotional about it. I am surprised. Words are really quite inadequate to describe it. It comes out of the blue. I was dumbstruck in many ways, but you don't achieve these things on your own.”. Nine-time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockcroft, was made a CBE, and Olympic 800 metre gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson, became an MBE. Cyclist Tom Pidcock and swimmer Duncan Scott are both upgraded to OBEs along with Helen Glover, who came out of retirement to land a rowing silver medal in the women's four at the Paris Olympics.
Also becoming MBEs from the Olympics, are rowing champions Lola Anderson, Georgie Brayshaw, Emily Craig, Imogen Grant, Lauren Henry and Hannah Scott, cyclists Sophie Capewell, Emma Finucane and Katy Marchant, trampoline gold medallist Bryony Page and kite-surfing winner Ellie Aldridge.
Athletics stars Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who won her first Olympic medal with heptathlon silver in Paris, and three-time medallist Dina Asher-Smith are also made MBEs. Penny Briscoe, the director of sport at the British Paralympic Association who also served as Chef de Mission for the fifth time in Paris, is made a CBE for services to Paralympic sport.
