Jane Figueiredo, the coach who became synonymous with Tom Daley’s incredible diving exploits, has been recognised as part of the King’s Birthday Honours List.
The 62-year-old, who has been awarded an MBE for services to diving, began working with Daley in 2014 when she took on a head coach role at Aquatics GB and helped him to four of his five Olympic medals, while Figueiredo guided the divers under her tutelage to eight Olympic medals in all.
The hard work of Figueiredo and her team over many years bore fruit in Paris as Team GB enjoyed their best-ever diving performance at an Olympics, with silver for Daley and Noah Williams in the men’s 10m synchro added to by four bronzes.
Figueiredo departed her Aquatics GB role in February 2025 after 11 years with the organisation and her place in the Honours List is one of several recent accolades, with the Zimbabwean also receiving a Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Olympic Committee in 2024.
A trailblazing voice across the sporting landscape, she was also part of UK Sport’s inaugural Female Coaches Leadership Programme back in 2021.
Reflecting on her tenure with Aquatics GB last year, she said: “It’s been an incredible and beautiful journey. My head is so full of knowledge and my heart is so full of love. I’m grateful for every moment and of course for the incredible journey Tom and I have shared over the years.
“There are lots of moments that stand out. I think in terms of at the pinnacle of sport, especially in diving, it would be Tom and Matty (Lee) winning the gold medal in Tokyo. That was pretty darn special - and then of course Noah Williams winning a bronze in the individual, and the girls, Scarlett (Mew Jensen) and Yasmin (Harper), winning the women's 3m synchro bronze medal, the first in more than six decades.
“Those are significant moments. There are a lot of defining moments, like Tom winning Worlds as well. But it's probably just what we built in London, I would say that is one of the most defining things, starting from scratch to where we are today.”
Emily Scarratt, who captained Team GB’s rugby sevens squad to a fourth-place finish at Rio 2016, has been awarded an OBE for services to rugby union.
England’s all-time leading points scorer was part of the Red Roses squad who won last year’s World Cup on home soil, Scarratt’s second triumph in the competition, while she has become a key part of the coaching team since hanging up her boots.
“It’s a huge honour and incredibly humbling to be named on the King’s Birthday Honours list,” Scarratt said.
“Every moment and memory in the game has been shaped by the people around me. Rugby wouldn't be the same without the volunteers, coaches, teammates, staff and supporters who give so much to the sport.
“The lifelong friendships and experiences rugby has given me are something I will never take for granted, and I'm proud to share this recognition with everyone who has been part of that journey."