More medals for Muirhead as Olympians race into history

EVE MUIRHEAD, who led Great Britain’s female curling team to gold at the Winter Olympics in February, is among a distinguished list of sports stars recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours.

The 32-year-old from Perth masterminded Team GB’S only gold of the games, and is being awarded an OBE for her efforts. Her team-mates Jennifer Dodds, Hailey Duff, Mili Smith and Victoria Wright will become MBES.

Muirhead finally struck gold at her fourth attempt, having also been the curling team’s skip in 2010, 2014 and 2018. She and her team took bronze at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi but missed out on the medals in 2010 and 2018.

She also has a World Championship gold medal, three European Championship golds, and won the World Mixed Doubles Championship in Geneva this year.

There are also MBES for five-time Champions League winner and Wales footballer Gareth Bale, and Liverpool player James Milner. Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand will become an OBE.

England cricketer Moeen Ali will also be made an OBE, and said: “It’s an honour to be recognised, it’s amazing and my family are really proud and happy. More than anything, I know it makes my parents happy.”

There is an MBE for Brynmor Williams, who has the rare distinction of having represented his country in three different sports.

Williams, 70, played both rugby union and rugby league for Wales and also represented his country in athletics. He was also a test player for the British Lions on their 1977 tour to New Zealand during which his team beat the All Blacks.

The former scrum-half has been a television and radio pundit for the BBC in both English and Welsh languages for more than 30 years.

MBES were given to skier Neil Simpson, 19, who won Paralympic gold in the Super G Visual Impaired class in Beijing, and his brother and guide, Andrew.

The same honour goes to swimmer Hannah Miley after a career in which she has won almost 50 medals since she first became a Commonwealth champion in 2010.

Miley, also a former world and European champion who competed at three Olympic games, announced her retirement in December 2021, with the award recognising both her service to swimming and to women in sport.

She said she “burst into tears and then hugged my mum” after learning she was being made an MBE.