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Paralympians named in Queen’s Birthday Honours
Menna Fitzpatrick and Kurt Fearnley among athletes recognised 11 Jun 2018
(Clockwise from top left) Fitzpatrick, Kehoe, Munn and Fearnley have all been honoured by the Queen
Four Paralympic medallists have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Off the back of an historic performance at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, British alpine skiers Menna Fitzpatrick and Jennifer Kehoe received MBEs (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
At the age of 20, Fitzpatrick was the youngest recipient of an honour on the list after she and guide Kehoe won the women’s vision impaired slalom gold at PyeongChang 2018, as well as silver in the super combined and giant slalom; and super-G bronze.
Their successes made them the most decorated British winter Paralympians in history and helped ParalympicsGB to its most successful Winter Games to date.
Over in Australia, wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley was also named on the list.
Three-time Paralympic champion Fearnley – already awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2005 – was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).
Fearnley was recognised not just for his athletic achievements on the track and marathon roads. He has helped people with an impairment through fundraising efforts when it comes to Indigenous athletics and charitable organisations. He is also a member on the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Athletes’ Council.
The 37-year-old has been to five Paralympic Games, three Commonwealth Games, two Olympics and a handful of World Championships.
Fearnley wrote on Twitter: “Humbled to be named an Officer of the Order of Australia today. I wish every person who guided, pushed and carried me through the last 37 years received the same honour. I’m grateful for every moment of this life because it is an absolute gift! Thanks for the messages! Kurt (AO)”
Seven-time Paralympian Simon Munn also received the MBE for services to wheelchair basketball. The British wheelchair basketball player won Paralympic silver for his nation in Atlanta 1996 and bronze medals in Sydney 200, Athens 2004 and at Rio 2016.
“It’s an honour to announce that I’m in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for an MBE. I’d like to thank all involved in my nomination, me and my family are very proud,” Munn wrote on Twitter.
