New Year Honours 2021: Jason Kenny knighted and wife Laura Kenny made a Dame as Emma Raducanu becomes MBE

AFP via Getty Images
Giuseppe Muro31 December 2021

Seven-time Olympic champion Jason Kenny has been knighted in the New Year Honours list, and his wife and five-time Olympic gold medallist Laura has been made a dame.

Jason, 33, became the most successful British Olympian when he won his seventh gold with a spectacular defence of his keirin title in Tokyo.

Laura, 29, is the joint most decorated female Team GB athlete and became the first British woman to win gold at three Olympic Games with her success in the madison.

Emma Raducanu has been made an MBE after her remarkable victory at the US Open. The 19-year-old ended Britain’s 44-year wait for a women’s Grand Slam singles champion.

Raducanu said: "It makes me immensely proud and grateful to be listed to receive an MBE from Her Majesty the Queen. This year has been full of amazing surprises for me so to end 2021 with this appointment is very special."

Emma Raducanu becomes the youngest ever recipient of an MBE following her US Open victory
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Tom Daley receives an OBE for services to diving, as well as LGBTQ+ rights.

The 27-year-old ended his long wait for Olympic gold at his fourth Games in Tokyo with a sublime display alongside Matty Lee, who becomes an MBE, in the synchronised 10m platform event.

"Being an OBE I feel it's almost a responsibility to make the whole Commonwealth a better place for LGBT people, for women, for people of colour, to make it a more inclusive and more accepting environment," he said.

Tom Daley becomes an OBE after he ended his long wait for an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo
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“I think it’s really important to be able to lift up all of the people that feel like they’re outsiders, feel like they don’t fit in and feel like they have been less than for so many years.”

Adam Peaty, a triple Olympic gold medallist in Tokyo, is also made an OBE for services to his sport and raising awareness of mental health.

Kadeena Cox, who has won Paralympic gold in cycling and athletics, becomes an OBE.

Three-time world and Olympic champion gymnast Max Whitlock and Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes are both awarded an OBE.

Olympians Jonny Brownlee, Lauren Price, Duncan Scott and Beth Shriever become MBEs, as does England assistant manager Steve Holland.

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