New Year Honours for Olympic and Paralympic figures
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Neil Robinson
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Grace Cullen 05 January 2012
World Taekwondo champion Sarah Stevenson and Paralympic Table Tennis coach and medallist Neil Robinson were among those to be recognised for services to sport in the New Year Honours list.
Stevenson became world champion for the second time in May, beating China’s Guo Yunfei in the -67 kg weight category at the event in South Korea. The 28-year-old went on to claim the Sunday Times’ Sportswoman of the Year, recognising her outstanding achievements in a year that she suffered personal tragedy, following the loss of both of her parents.
The two-time world champion said: “It is such a huge honour to receive an MBE. It's fantastic to be recognised for the hard work I have put into Taekwondo for the past 21 years.
“I know my parents would have been so proud of this award.
“It’s also a boost for the sport in this country and I am proud to be an ambassador for Taekwondo. I hope this will continue to help raise the profile of this great sport.”
Neil Robinson, a seven-time Paralympian and multi-medallist in table tennis, now works as part of the GB table tennis coaching set up. As well as seven medals at the Paralympics and three World Championship medals, Robinson was a three-time European champion and twelve-time European medallist during his playing career, which spanned three decades.
There was also a CBE for former British and European triathlon champion and President of the British Triathlon Federation, Professor Sarah Springman.
On receiving her award, Professor Springman said: "It is not often that words fail me - but to be recognised for contributions to a sport, which has been a lifelong passion, is an incredible honour. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to make a difference and I hope that there will be even more success to celebrate in 2012."
Charles Allen, the former Chief Executive of ITV and current London 2012 Organising Committee board member was knighted, as was John Armitt, chair of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), while ODA Director of Construction, Howard Shiplee, received a CBE.
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