Services to sailing recognised
03 Jan 2017
Giles Scott is just one Olympic sailor to be recognised in the New Year Honours list
Giles Scott, Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark – British sailing’s golden trio from the Rio Olympic Games – have been recognised in the New Year Honours list.
The Olympic champions were named as Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to sailing following their Rio achievements where Mr Scott maintained a five-games British winning streak in the Finn event and Ms Mills and Ms Clark claimed a first ever British Olympic gold in the 470 Women’s class.
Ms Clark described the award as ‘insane’: “To represent Great Britain at an Olympics is an absolute privilege, to be in the position to win the gold medal was amazing and to top it off with an MBE is absolutely insane. What a year! It is such a huge honour.”
Ms Mills added: “Since the Games it has been great – the support and response from the public, family and friends has been overwhelming, to be recognised by our sport as World Sailors of the Year and now in the Honours List, it is just so, so special. I can’t imagine 2017 living up to the challenge, but I hope it will be half as good.”
Ian Walker, double Olympic medallist and Volvo Ocean Race winner, has also been made an MBE for services to Olympic and international competitive sailing and Solihull sailor Andrew Yates has received the British Empire Medal for his contribution to sailing in the borough.