Mary at the Olympics (photo by Abby Gibbon)
Along with all of her other amazing achievements throughout her illustrious career in Eventing, Mary King can now proclaim herself a recipient of an MBE. As an awardee of the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, she joins the list of sporting heroes from London 2012 on the New Year’s Honours List, given by the Queen as an official honor of chivalry.
Mary said of her achievement:
“It is a huge honour to be recognised for my longevity in this sport after six Olympics and over thirty years of commitment. I had always hoped to be on the New Year’s Honours List so to receive it in 2012 is the icing on the cake at the end of a great year.”
“I have committed myself to Rio in 2016 and to also to continue to inspire both young and old to keep going!”
This year’s honours list is dominated by athletes and coaches from the Olympics and Paralympics after their inspirational success this summer. Mary King is our favorite recipient but not the only equestrian on the list. Charlotte DuJardin was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) along with paralympian Sophie Christiansen, and show jumper Ben Maher was awarded an MBE as well. Paralympians Natasha Baker, Deborah Criddle and Sophie Wells were awarded MBE’s, and dressage superstars Carl Hester and Laura Bechtolsheimer were also on the list. Last but not least was Scott Brash, a showjumping phenom from the Olympics.
Go Mary!!
