Gallagher and Grey-Thompson honoured at National Lottery Awards

Paralympic champions Kelly Gallagher and Tanni Grey-Thompson have been honoured at the 25th Birthday National Lottery Awards.

Gallagher – who became ParalympicsGB’s first-ever Winter Paralympic gold medallist at Sochi 2014 – won the Sporting Legend Award, while 11-time Paralympic champion Baroness Grey-Thompson scooped the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Alongside guide Charlotte Evans, skier Gallagher won the women’s super-G in Sochi to make history and at the National Lottery Awards, she came out on top in a public vote for the Sporting Legend gong – ahead of the likes of Sir Mo Farah and Sir Chris Hoy.

And the 34-year-old admits she is still coming to terms with winning the vote ahead of such a star-studded group.

“It is a real honour to win this Sporting Legend Award,” said Gallagher. “National Lottery support has been instrumental in my success during my career and without it, I would never have been able to achieve so much.

“The Sporting Legend category of the 25 Birthday National Lottery Awards was a real who’s who of sport. To be mentioned in the same breath as some of these legends was one thing but to come out on top is just incredible.

“I would like to thank everyone who voted for myself and Charlotte and say a special thank you to National Lottery players whose play make all this possible.”

Baroness Grey-Thompson won a remarkable 11 Paralympic wheelchair racing gold medals during her storied career – ranging from 100m to 800m – at four separate Games.

Since retiring from the sport, the 50-year-old has become a life peer in the House of Lords where she has tirelessly championed disability rights, welfare reform and sport.