Paralympic and Olympic Games medallists recognised in New Year's Honours list

Heroes of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games plus aquatic stalwarts have been recognised in the King’s New Year 2025 Honours List.

Eight years after being awarded an MBE in the 2017 New Year’s Honours, Alice Tai has been awarded an OBE for services to swimming after winning five Paralympic medals in the French capital.

Tully Kearney also receives an OBE after picking up two gold medals in Paris – while Duncan Scott has been bestowed with the same honour following his impressive performances for Team GB at the La Defense Arena during the Olympics.

Paralympians Poppy Maskill, William Ellard and Stephen Clegg are to receive MBEs after securing 10 Paris podium places between them.

Tai and Maskill were Paralympics GB’s most decorated swimmers as they won five medals each in Paris.

Maskill, who was making her Paralympics debut, topped the podium three times, winning gold in the S14 100m Butterfly, the S14 100m Backstroke while she was also part of the victorious Mixed S14 4x100m Relay team.

The 19-year-old also won two silver medals – in the S14 200m Freestyle and the SM14 200m Individual Medley – to cap a remarkable debut Paralympics performance.

She said: “It means a lot and I feel honoured to get this award and very grateful to receive this opportunity.”

Tai secured her first individual Paralympic titles in Paris after triumphing in the S8 100m Backstroke and S8 50m Freestyle.

A silver was secured in the S8 400m Freestyle, while the 24-year-old member of Ealing Swimming Club also won two bronze medals in the SM8 200m Individual Medley and S8 100m Butterfly.

Remarkable 2024

Kearney was a double gold medallist in her second Paralympics as she was victorious in the S5 100m and 200m Freestyle races.

It was an achievement matched by William Ellard who enjoyed a remarkable 2024.

He set a world record on his way winning the S14 200m Freestyle in Paris, while he was also part of the Mixed S14 4x100m Relay team. 

The 18-year-old, who was shortlisted for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year, also picked up a silver medal in the S14 100m Butterfly.

Clegg was also a double gold medallist in the Paris Paralympics, taking top spot in the S12 100m Backstroke and the S12 100m Butterfly.

Scott secured his seventh Olympic Games podium place as he was part of the record-breaking 4x200m Freestyle Relay team which secured back-to-back gold medals in July.

It was the first time that the same four members of a British relay team in either swimming or athletics have successfully defended their Olympic title.

Meanwhile, Katherine Batts, lately the treasurer of City of Rochester Swimming and Lifeguard Club, has received an MBE for voluntary service to swimming and to the Royal Life Saving Society.

William Wyatt, the chair of Halliwick Association of Swimming Therapy, also receives an MBE for services to disabled people, while Karen Kelly, the head coach at Lanark Amateur Swimming Club, is awarded a British Empire Medal for voluntary service.