Olympic and Paralympic stars dominate in New Year's Honours list

Farah and Murray both receive knighthoods after 2016s that will forever define their careers. Farah took his tally of Olympic golds to four by completing a famous double double over 5,000m and 10,000m in Rio, four years after achieving the same feat at London 2012. And Murray become the first man to defend a men's tennis singles Olympic title, just a few weeks after winning Wimbledon for the second time. He also finished the year as world number one after triumphing in the end of season ATP World Tour Finals. Farah said: "I'm so happy to be awarded this incredible honour from the country that has been my home since I moved here at the age of eight. "Looking back at the boy who arrived here from Somalia, not speaking any English, I could never have imagined where I would be today - it's a dream come true. "I'm so proud to have had the opportunity to race for my country and win gold medals for the British people, who have been my biggest supporters throughout my career." Olympic champion rower Grainger and heptathlete Ennis-Hill, silver medallists in Rio, are honoured with damehoods for spectacular careers, which saw them dominate on the world and Olympic stage. "I'm very proud of my MBE and CBE but this is an incredible honour for any athlete," said Ennis-Hill, gold medallist at London 2012. "You work so hard competing and this sort of recognition means so much." Grainger, whose five Olympic medals between 2000 and 2016 make her Great Britain's most decorated woman Olympian, added: "It's an enormous honour and something I could never have imagined when I started my rowing career with British Rowing 20 years ago. "It also reflects the fantastic leaps forward our sport has made in that time. I have to thank all of my team-mates and coaches and the support staff I have worked with over that time as I wouldn't have had the success, or this honour, without them."

There was also a knighthood for 11-time Paralympic gold medallist Lee Pearson having represented para-equestrianism in four games from Sydney in 2000 right through to Rio. Laura Kenny, who became Britain's most successful female Olympian with her third and fourth career gold in Rio, and husband Jason Kenny, who moved alongside Sir Chris Hoy with his sixth gold, cap a memorable year with CBEs. Two-time Olympic champion Nick Skelton, who famously won individual show jumping gold on Big Star aged 58 this summer, is also awarded a CBE in recognition of nearly four decades of medal success in equestrian sport. And another of Team GB's married couples are celebrating after with an OBE for Kate Richardson-Walsh and an MBE for Helen Richardson-Walsh, following Great Britain's first women's Olympic hockey gold medal. Nicola Adams, who made history again when she retained her boxing flyweight title, is made an OBE, alongside three-time Olympic champion cyclist Ed Clancy, dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin and rowers Andy Triggs-Hodge and Peter Reed. Paralympic stars are also recognised with eight-time Paralympic champion dressage rider Sophie Christiansen and 13-time medallist Sascha Kindred both made a CBE while 15-year old swimmer Ellie Robinson becomes an MBE. There are also a host of MBEs for first-time Olympic and Paralympic champions, including double Olympic gymnastics gold medallist Max Whitlock, slalom canoeist Joe Clarke and diver Jack Laugher, who won synchro gold with Chris Mears and individual springboard silver. "After what Chris and I did together, it would be truly remarkable to actually be recognised by Her Majesty and have a title forever," said Laugher. "I have to change my Facebook name, my Twitter name, and make them change all my bills!" Clarke, one of Team GB's early medallists in Rio after winning K-1 gold, added: "You're joining a list of absolute greats, so I can't really put it into words. "Do you add it to your name? Or do you let it fly under the radar? I'd probably start adding to my name to start with and then see if the novelty wears off. Probably not as it's fantastic to have it." Saskia Clark, who upgraded her London 2012 silver when she won sailing 470 gold with Hannah Mills, added: "None of us do this for recognition by the Queen but it's absolutely insane, amazing and another level." All members of Great Britain's gold medal winning hockey team receive recognition, following their dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Holland that had the nation gripped. "It's a bit surreal to be honest, I don't think I'm going to know what to do it with it," said Georgie Twigg. "Just to have achieved what we have done this year is phenomenal. It's the icing on the cake but there are so many deserving winners of it and there are a lot of us hockey players too." Whitlock is also looking ahead to his day at the Palace but, after a Christmas of relaxing, is also ready to hit the gym in pursuit of more glory in Tokyo. "It's incredible and a massive honour," said Whitlock. "For me, I do my job, I'm in the gym, I'm training as hard as possible and I try to get the results I get. Anything like this is a huge bonus and honour and I'm so thankful. "No one would have every predicted what we achieved in Rio, it was fantastic for gymnastics, but the next job now is to try and beat it in Tokyo. I'm keeping my body in shape and then as soon as January hits I will be back up to full time training." In addition, the British Olympic Association's Mark England and Paul Ford have been awarded an OBE and MBE respectively. England led the whole 366-strong athlete delegation in Rio as Chef de Mission with Team GB becoming the first nation to win more medals at the Games immediately after hosting with 67 bettering the 65 won at London 2012. Ford headed up Team GB's pre-Games preparation camp in Belo Horizonte which hosted 164 athletes across 14 sports in world-class facilities prior to their arrival in Rio. "2016 has been a remarkable and truly memorable year for Team GB and Olympic sport in the United Kingdom," said British Olympic Association chairman Sir Hugh Robertson. "To end on such a high with the Olympians recognised in the highest possible manner is testament to their historic achievements. "As well as the athletes, it is also of great pride to the British Olympic Association to see both Mark England, as Team GB's Chef de Mission and Paul Ford, as Prep-camp Manager, receive Honours for their work this year in leading the delegation as a whole and our pre-Games preparation camp respectively. "Their efforts, along with the wider team behind the team, played a crucial role in Team GB's success in Rio and these accolades are richly deserved." Sportsbeat 2016