Team GB Mixed Relay stars get MBEs to add to Tokyo golds

Team Great Britain’s Mixed Relay Olympic gold medal winners received another glittering award to end 2021 on Friday night.

Jess Learmonth, Jonny Brownlee, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee were all awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for their services to triathlon.

The quartet got the better of a gripping battle with the United States and France back in the summer to claim a spectacular victory in the Japanese capital.

It was the first time Mixed Relay had been included in the Olympic Games, and the British crew made it a special debut with a brilliant performance.

Learmonth on MBE

For Learmonth it was a fantastic end to a year which had not begun auspiciously.

Writing in an Instagram post, she said: “Beginning 2021 with a sacrum fracture wasn’t the ideal start. Thankfully it turned out better than I’d hoped!

“An Olympic medal, a wild month with @superleaguetriathlon and topped off with an MBE in the New Years honours list.

“I’m so lucky to have amazing friends, family & coaches. I’ll be forever grateful for all your support.”

Yee thanks ‘special people’

Yee meanwhile published an Instagram post paying tribute to the people around him – family, friends, team-mates and fans – who played a part in his special 2021.

Alongside a string of images, he said: “An honour to be recognised in the Queens New Years honours list with my team mates. Thanks to these special people and so many more. Here’s to 2022 x”

Dreams come true for Brownlee

Jonny Brownlee was also delighted to finish the year with yet another honour, expressing his feelings in an Instagram post.

“The year when dreams came true, very special memories and lots of love ❤️
Finished off by being recognised on the Queen’s New Year Honours List with an MBE 🏅

“Thanks so much to everyone who made this year so special and for all the support along the way.”