European 10,000m champion among those recognised in latest honours list

Jo Pavey has been made an MBE for services to athletics in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The 41-year-old won her first major title last year, with success at the European Championships in Zurich coming just 10 days after she claimed 5000m bronze at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

She recently announced how she does not intend to target this summer’s IAAF World Championships in Beijing but will instead focus on working towards what would be her fifth Olympic Games in Rio next year.

The BBC quoted Pavey as saying: “Everything has been a big surprise and to get something like an MBE is just another surprise – it’s all so surreal.”

She later tweeted: “Huge honour to receive an MBE. Big surprise when I was told. Thank you so much for all the nice messages.”

Also among those recognised in the latest honours list is UK Athletics lead sprints coach Lloyd Cowan, who is also made an MBE for services to athletics, and UK Sport CEO Liz Nicholl, who has been made a CBE for services to sport.

Northern Athletics president Jean Simpson becomes an MBE for services to athletics, while the president of Swansea Harriers Athletic Club, Joseph Barrie Owen, has been made an MBE for services to Welsh athletics.

Hercules Wimbledon AC stalwart Peter Mulholland is a recipient of the British Empire Medal for services to athletics in Wimbledon, while Nuneaton Harriers president Barry Ewington is also recognised with a BEM for services to athletics in the Midlands.

In total, 1163 people received an award in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. The full lists can be found here.

The post Jo Pavey made an MBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours appeared first on Athletics Weekly.