Knighthoods for cyclists?

[Cycling Naturalist]

So far the tariff for honours for sportsmen seems to be as follows:-

5 rowing golds - knighthood (Sir Steve Redgrave) This can be reduced to 4 if you went to Eton (Sir Matthew Pinsent)
800 and 1,500 metres on the track (much better than some boating event you've never heard of (Dame Kelly Holmes)
1,500 metres in two sucessive Olympics (peerage - Seb Coe)

So, what are the cycling lads going to get? A few years ago, I'd have bet on the British Empire Medal (usually awarded to lollipop ladies) being reintroduced for the purpose. However, now that we've got the likes of Boris Johnson and David Cameron on bikes, I hope we're in for something more meaty.

 

[marinyork]

Actually Seb's now equal with Kelly on a KBE.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

Does seem very variable: Scotland's most successful Olympian with 2 golds then a silver in the 68 /72 /76 games only got an MBE.

 

[zimzum42]

Kelly was so unexpected, I think that's why she got it.

The cyclists were fully expected to clean up, and good on them!

I'm sure they'll get something, and if they do it 4 times in 16 years, then they should bet a KBE!

 

[alecstilleyedye]

kelly holmes is also ex-forces, which might add a bit of worthyness…

i think it would demean the honour to give a knighthood (damehood?) to ms adlington at the age of 19, two golds notwithstanding. of course, should she prove to have a good career and improve the lot of british swimming, she might get one later on in life.

how about dave brailsford for a gong?

 

[marinyork]

Yeah I don't think that they do tend to give them out to people that young. Of course two well known members of the cycling squad have already got MBEs and OBEs...

I wonder whether they went made giving them out after the 1920 games (best ever results)...

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

kelly holmes is also ex-forces, which might add a bit of worthyness…

i think it would demean the honour to give a knighthood (damehood?) to ms adlington at the age of 19, two golds notwithstanding. of course, should she prove to have a good career and improve the lot of british swimming, she might get one later on in life.

how about dave brailsford for a gong?

Ellen McArthur was 29 when she was made a Dame

 

[marinyork]

Ellen McArthur was 29 when she was made a Dame

You might have a point though, 2 golds at the same games gets you a DBE or various round the world exploits a DBE via an MBE, whereas 4 golds gets you a lower CBE. Or if you're lucky like Seb Coe trading them in MBE-->OBE-->KBE whereas the two Steves are stucky on lowly OBEs and MBEs.

 

[papercorn2000]

If he gets the sprint, I'd be happy for Hoy to be King. Heck,can't be worse than Charlie and the other inbreds!

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

If he gets the sprint, I'd be happy for Hoy to be King. Heck,can't be worse than Charlie and the other inbreds!

Would shagging Camilla be compulsory?

 

[longers]

Would shagging Camilla be compulsory?

I think he'll abdicate if it is.

 

[papercorn2000]

Would shagging Camilla be compulsory?

Nah, she'd be up against the wall as well...

 

[Andy in Sig]

I don't think sportspeople should get honours for doing well at their sports, the recognition comes in the form of the medals won, after all. If however, after a lifetime of sporting achievement, they go on to do things to encourage others to take up sport, particularly encouraging children to get into it etc., then yes something like an MBE is in order, but knighthoods etc are over the top IMO.

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

Nah, she'd be up against the wall as well...

Would redders have Zara Phillips up against a wall? Or, would minor royals avoid getting shot come the revolution.

 

[srw]

Redgrave, Pinsent and MacArthur got theirs purely for sporting excellence. Holmes got hers for community work as well as sporting excellence. Coe was a political honour - he's a mate of John Major's.