ParalympicsGB athletes and Chef de Mission recognised in King’s New Year Honours

Athletes who represented ParalympicsGB at Paris 2024 and Chef de Mission Penny Briscoe were among those recognised in the King’s New Year Honours 2025 list.

Penny Briscoe, who was Chef de Mission for her fifth Games at Paris 2024, received a CBE for services to Paralympic sport along with Hannah Cockroft who added two Paralympic gold medals to her collection at Paris 2024 and plays a key role in ParalympicsGB’s Equal Play campaign film calling for equitable access to school sport for all disabled children.

Hannah said: ‘Being put forward for the New Years Honours list is just the perfect ending to an incredible year.

“It’s been a big year with two golds and a silver medal at the World Championships in Japan in May, two gold medals at the Paralympics in Paris this summer and a wedding, so it was a surprise to get my letter, but such a proud moment”

Penny Briscoe, ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission at Paris 2024, said: “As a passionate sports fan I feel both incredibly proud and humble to receive a CBE in the King’s New Year Honours for services to Paralympic sport.

“Paris 2024 was my eleventh Paralympic games and my fifth as Chef de Mission of ParalympicsGB and during that time I have seen the growth of the movement and the unique power of Paralympic sport to break down barriers and challenge perceptions of disability.

“I am forever grateful for the opportunities I have been given and the unforgettable experiences I have had with the support of dedicated and talented athletes and staff.

“As a team and as a movement we have achieved so much in recent years, and I am convinced the outstanding success of ParalympicsGB athletes on the field of play can continue to drive positive and meaningful change off it. I am delighted to receive this award not just for myself but in recognition of all who continue to strive to champion change as part of ParalympicsGB.”

Paris 2024 double gold medal winning swimmers Tully Kearney and Alice Tai who won five medals including two gold after having to miss Tokyo 2020 due to injury were awarded OBEs.

They were joined by Rowing cox and cancer campaigner Erin Kennedy, Athletics’ Sammi Kinghorn who won five medals on the track, Lauren Rowles who became the first Rower ever to win gold medals at three consecutive Paralympic Games, and military veteran Jaco van Gass who won double gold in the velodrome.

ParalympicsGB athletes to receive an MBE included Poppy Maskill who was the most successful British athlete at Paris 2024 winning three gold and two silver medals in the pool. The youngest recipient was fellow swimmer William Ellard who won two gold medals and a silver at just 18 years old while double gold medal winning teammate Stephen Clegg was also recognised.

Jodie Grinham, who was seven months pregnant when she won an individual bronze medal and then a gold alongside Nathan Macqueen in Archery and both receive an MBE.

Other Paris 2024 athletes to be recognised are Sabrina Fortune who broke her own world record to win gold in the shot put and gold medallist Stephen McGuire and Claire Taggart from Boccia. Cycling is represented by Fin Graham who won a gold and silver medal, Sophie Unwin and tandem partner Jenny Holl who won four medals and Lizzi Jordan and pilot Danni Khan who won time-trial gold.

Gregg Stevenson, a military veteran who partnered Lauren Rowles in the Rowing double sculls was awarded an MBE along with Dave Ellis and Luke Pollard who triumphed in the Triathlon. Dimitri Coutya who won four medals in Wheelchair Fencing at Paris 2024 and Taekwondo champion Amy Truesdale complete the list of ParalympicsGB athletes.

Dave Clarke, CEO of ParalympicsGB said: “ParalympicsGB’s performance at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games was outstanding with the team finishing second on the medal table with 124 medals, 49 of them golds and a record equalling 18 sports achieving a podium position demonstrating the breadth and scale of performances right across the team.

“We are delighted that many of our athletes have been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours which is a testament to what they have achieved both on and off the field of play.”

The decision on who receives an honour is made at the discretion of the UK Government.