Hoy rewarded with knighthood

Cyclist Chris Hoy is to be made a knight for his Olympic heroics while every gold medallist from the Beijing Games is rewarded in the New Year Honours.

In a move that breaks with tradition, Hoy will be knighted while still competing and will take part in London 2012 as Sir Chris.

The 32-year-old Scot told PA Sport: "To become a knight from riding your bike, it's mad.

"But it is, genuinely, just an amazing honour, it's also great for the sport."

Hoy was one of 10 Olympic cyclists to be honoured, while a number of Olympic coaches and officials were also recognised.

Reading FC chairman John Madejski is also knighted, for charitable services, and Lewis Hamilton receives an MBE after becoming the youngest ever Formula One world champion but otherwise the list is dominated by Olympians, Paralympians and their coaches.

Rebecca Adlington, the 19-year-old swimmer who won two Olympic golds - the first British woman to win an Olympic swimming gold for 48 years - receives an OBE.

Swimmer Eleanor Simmonds, who was just 13 when she won two Paralympic events in Beijing, becomes the youngest-ever recipient of an MBE.

Sailor Ben Ainslie, who has won three golds and a silver at the last four Olympics, is made a CBE, as is cycling's performance director David Brailsford, and Bradley Wiggins, who won two golds in Beijing to follow his gold, silver and bronze in Athens.

Other CBEs go to Paralympic swimmer David Roberts, who equalled Tanni Grey-Thompson's record of 11 Paralympic golds, rider Lee Pearson who won three equestrian Paralympic golds, and David Tanner, the performance director of GB Rowing.