Double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee has been awarded an OBE in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours, while fellow Olympians Rachel Daly and Natasha Jonas are also named.
Brownlee announced his retirement from professional triathlon last November following a glittering 18-year career and has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to triathlon and charity.
When the 37-year-old first started competing, triathlon was a fringe discipline but it is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the world at elite and participation level, due in no small part to his achievements.
The Yorkshireman’s time on the triathlon circuit saw him storm into the British sporting hall of fame as he became the first athlete to win two individual triathlon Olympic titles, with gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016, alongside a host of other global titles.
Despite his retirement from the professional arena, Brownlee continues to push boundaries in endurance sport, taking part in gravel bike and fell running races.
After starting the Brownlee Foundation, alongside his younger brother Jonny, the triathlete has also made it his mission to give back by introducing more young children to triathlon and raising the profile of the sport.
“It’s a massive honour that other athletes look up to you,” said Brownlee, following his retirement last season.
“I'm very proud that whatever impact I've had on the sport of triathlon in terms of motivating and inspiring other people to be involved, that's really special.
“I've tried to do what I can, helping other athletes out and coaching and giving advice to people just because of my love and passion for it."
Daly has been awarded an MBE for her services to football after announcing her retirement from international football.
The 33-year-old from Harrogate won a total of 84 caps for England during her eight years in the team, scoring 16 goals for her country as well as starting every game on their history-making run to win the 2022 EUROs on home soil.
Daly made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, helping Team GB keep a clean sheet on their run to the quarter-finals before falling 4-3 to Australia.
London 2012 Olympian Jonas has also been awarded an MBE for her services to boxing.
The 40-year-old from Liverpool made history as the first-ever British female boxer to compete at an Olympic Games at London 2012.
She got through her round-of-16 fight with Quanitta Underwood but was beaten in the quarter final by Katie Taylor of Ireland.
Jonas turned professional in 2017 and won her first title on her third attempt in February 2022, by stopping Chris Namus in their fight for the vacant WBO female super-welterweight championship in her home city of Liverpool.
She became a two-weight world champion on 1 July 2023, taking the vacant welterweight belt, and added a second unified title by defeating WBC female welterweight title holder Ivana Habazin via unanimous decision in December 2024.
Sportsbeat 2025