News

Seven-time Paralympian Jeanette Chippington, who already has an MBE, has been awarded an OBE for services to Canoeing. She won bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, which brings her Paralympic total to 14 medals in a career which has spanned two sports for more than 30 years.

 

“I am very appreciative that my sporting achievements, which span over seven Paralympic Games, have been celebrated with this award. I am so incredibly proud and honoured to have been recognised,” said Chippington.

 

Two of her teammates have also been included in the New Year’s honours list. Tokyo Paralympic gold medallists Charlotte Henshaw and Laura Sugar have both been awarded MBEs for Services to Canoeing. They have won their respective KL2 and KL3 finals at the Olympic Games and have also won World Champion titles later in the season.

 

“I’m very proud to have been part of a world leading team performance this year and to be recognised for services to our amazing sport is really special and something I’m proud to be part of. I hope to continue to contribute towards increasing the awareness of Paracanoe and Paralympic sport so we can continue to break down barriers and showcase Paralympic sport to a wider audience,” said Henshaw, who participated at previous Paralympic Games, winning silver and bronze in London and Rio respectively, after making her debut in Beijing as part of the swimming team.

 

Former international hockey player, Laura competed on the track for Great Britain at the Rio Paralympics in 2016 but a successful transfer to canoeing saw her become Paralympic Champion. “It's a huge honour to be recognised in the New Year’s honours list, canoeing has brought so much to my life and I hope to be able to inspire others to take up the sport. I'm very grateful to be honoured for doing something I love, especially when there are so many people out there doing incredible things to benefit others, especially during the pandemic. I hope to keep doing what I love and help to inspire the next generation to be able to be active, especially young girls in sport.”

 

British Canoeing Vice President Alan Laws was awarded an MBE for his Services to Canoeing having dedicated more than 60 years to the sport. He started paddling at Lincoln Canoe Club in 1960, and went on to become Chair of the British Canoeing Board, the Sprint Racing Committee and was Chair of the Marathon Racing Committee for 28 years. His involvement in the sport has also seen Alan complete a 34 year tenure on the International Canoe Federation’s Marathon Committee, transforming the sport across the globe. “It is a great honour to have ones efforts recognised in this way although as ever there are many others that have helped me over the years whose work goes unsung.”