Wiggins knighted in Honours list

Cyclist Bradley Wiggins has been knighted in the New Year Honours list after winning the Tour de France and then gold at the 2012 London Olympics.

GB cycling's performance director Dave Brailsford, who helped Wiggins become the first Briton to win the Tour, is also made a sir.

Also knighted are four-time Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslie and GB rowing chief Dave Tanner.

Brailsford on "weird" knighthood

Sarah Storey, winner of multiple Paralympic gold medals, is made a dame.

"It's an incredible feeling," said Storey, who claimed four cycling golds at the London Paralympics to add to the two she won at the 2008 Games in Beijing. "It's hard to put into words other than just it is the greatest honour."

Before switching to para-cycling, Storey won five Paralympic golds in the swimming pool. She claimed two at Barcelona in 1992 and then three at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

Her 11 Paralympic titles are only matched by legendary wheelchair athlete Baroness Grey-Thompson and swimmer Dave Roberts. Her collection of 22 medals of all colours is unsurpassed.

"We feel so fortunate that 2012 will always stand out as being the most incredible year," said 35-year-old Storey, who is married to fellow Paralympic gold medallist Barney Storey.

Ben Ainslie: For services to sailing.

Dave Brailsford: For services to cycling and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Sarah Storey: For services to para-cycling.

David Tanner: For services to rowing and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Bradley Wiggins: For services to cycling.

The 2013 list is dominated by athletes and coaches from the Olympics and Paralympics after their inspirational success this summer.

The knighthood caps a dream year for Wiggins, who was named the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year in December 2012, after he won the Tour in July and the Olympic time trial in August.

The 32-year-old called the honour the "ultimate accolade", adding he felt it was acknowledgment not only of his achievements in 2012 but over the past 12 years.

"I never ever imagined that I would ever become a knight so it's an incredible honour but there's a slight element of disbelief and it will take a while to sink in," said Wiggins.

Brailsford, who not only helped Wiggins seal victory in the Tour as Team Sky boss, also masterminded Britain's dominance in cycling at the Olympics and Paralympics.

Dame Sarah Storey: "It's unbelievable that's my new title"

"It is quite humbling and it really is something to try to get my head around," said the 48-year-old.

"I'm very lucky and aware that the sport of cycling has grown and that we have had great success because it is a team effort over a long, long period of time."

Ainslie has more Olympic medals than any other sailor. After winning silver in Atlanta in 1996, he went on to take gold in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London.

He is fourth in the list of Britain's all-time individual medallists behind Sir Chris Hoy (cycling: six gold, one silver), Sir Steve Redgrave (rowing: five gold, one bronze) and Wiggins (cycling: four gold, one silver, two bronze).

The 35-year-old, who retired from Olympic sailing in November, admitted he never dreamt of being knighted when he began Olympic sailing more than 20 years ago.

"This is an incredible honour," added Ainslie, who will attempt to win the Americas Cup in 2013,

"I couldn't have achieved this honour without the support of all the people who have helped me throughout my career and so I hope they can also take some pride in this moment."

Tanner has been GB rowing's performance director since 1996, leading the sport through the most successful period in its history.

Ainslie says knighthood is a "proud moment"

Britain won three medals at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, four in Athens in 2004, and six at Beijing 2008 before taking nine, including four gold, at London 2012.

Andy Murray, who also won gold at the Games, becomes an OBE. After his men's singles victory at London 2012, the Scot became the first British man in 76 years to win a Grand Slam tournament when he triumphed at the US Open in September.

Others from the world of sport who are recognised for their contributions include former England cricketers Mark Ramprakash and Robert Croft, ex-Arsenal assistant manager Pat Rice and former rugby league star Paul Sculthorpe. All are appointed MBEs.

Former Wales and Lions wing JJ Williams also becomes an MBE for services to rugby and charity in Wales.

David Sheepshanks, the joint-acting chairman of the Football Association, is appointed a CBE. He oversaw the building of the National Football Centre near Burton, which opened in October, and was chairman of Ipswich Town for 13 years from 1995 to 2008.

Knighthood: Ben Ainslie - sailing; Bradley Wiggins - cycling

CBE: Katherine Grainger - rowing; Jessica Ennis - athletics; Mo Farah - athletics; Victoria Pendleton - cycling.

OBE: Charlotte Dujardin - equestrian; Jason Kenny - cycling; Andy Murray - tennis; Laura Trott - cycling.

MBE: Nicola Adams - boxing; Tim Baillie - canoeing; Laura Bechtolsheimer - equestrian; Scott Brash - equestrian; Alistair Brownlee - triathlon; Steven Burke - cycling; Luke Campbell - boxing; Peter Charles - equestrian; Katherine Copeland - rowing; Helen Glover - rowing; Alex Gregory - rowing; Carl Hester - equestrian; Philip Hindes - cycling; Sophie Hosking - rowing; Jade Jones - taekwondo; Anthony Joshua - boxing; Peter Kennaugh - cycling; Dani King - cycling; Mary King - equestrian; Ben Maher - equestrian; Ed McKeever - canoeing; Joanna Rowsell - cycling; Greg Rutherford - athletics; Louis Smith - gymnastics; Heather Stanning - rowing; Etienne Stott - canoeing; Anna Watkins - rowing; Peter Wilson - shooting.

Dame: Sarah Storey - cycling.

CBE: David Weir - athletics.

OBE: Sophie Christiansen - equestrian; Ellie Simmonds - swimming.

MBE: Jessica-Jane Applegate - athletics; Natasha Baker - equestrian; Danielle Brown - archery; Mickey Bushell - athletics; Hannah Cockroft - athletics; Mark Colbourne - cycling; Josef Craig - swimming; Deborah Criddle - equestrian; Aled Davies - athletics; Neil Fachie - cycling; Jonathan Fox - swimming; Heather Frederiksen - swimming; Oliver Hynd - swimming; Helena Lucas - sailing; Craig MacLean - cycling; Nigel Murray - boccia; Jonnie Peacock - athletics; Josie Pearson - athletics; Pam Relph - rowing; Naomi Riches - rowing; James Roe - rowing; David Smith - rowing; Lily van den Broecke - rowing; Sophie Wells - equestrian; Richard Whitehead - athletics.

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Award my greatest win - Wiggins

By Frank Keogh BBC Sport Bradley Wiggins says being voted 2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year is possibly his greatest triumph.

The 32-year-old cyclist claimed Olympic time trial gold in the summer after becoming the first Briton to win the Tour de France.

He secured the BBC award from runner-up Jessica Ennis and Andy Murray in third after a public vote.

"To be ahead of Jess and Andy, it's probably my greatest sporting achievement," he said.

"The other stuff you can control, you can't control people voting for you."

Sports Personality of the Year: Bradley Wiggins

Young Sports Personality: Josef Craig

Helen Rollason Award: Martine Wright

Overseas Personality: Usain Bolt

Team of the Year: GB Olympic and Paralympic squads

Coach of the Year: Dave Brailsford

Unsung Hero: Sue and Jim Houghton

Lifetime Achievement: Lord Coe

Wiggins admitted he thought runner Mo Farah, a double Olympic gold medallist who finished fourth in the poll, might win when his own name was not among the first two read out.

More than 1.6 million phone votes were cast for the 12 shortlisted contenders.

The show, watched by a crowd of 16,000 at London's ExCeL Arena, marked a memorable sporting year where London hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Wiggins secured 30% of the vote, with Olympic heptathlon champion Ennis earning 22% and US Open tennis victor Murray, a fellow Games gold medallist, on 14%.

The BBC award winner, dressed in a navy velvet suit, said he had been a fan of the Sports Personality show since he was a child.

"Sports Personality is a bit of an institution in our house and always has been. To win this it's very difficult to put into words," he said after receiving the award from the Duchess of Cambridge.

"It's incredible, and I'm very proud. It's something I certainly wanted to win."

Team Sky rider Wiggins said he would have voted for Paralympic wheelchair racer David Weir and was "starstruck" when he met him.

Wiggins teases 'Susan' Barker

"The 12 nominees all achieved things in their own right. It was probably the most nerve-wracking thing of the year for me," said the first English winner since Zara Phillips in 2006.

"I was inspired as a 12-year-old watching [Olympic gold medallist and Tour stage winner] Chris Boardman and hopefully this year will have done the same for others."

Wiggins, who was born in Belgium, grew up in London and is now based in Lancashire, said he would let his grandmother have the trophy before putting it behind the bar at his local pub - the Farmers Arms in Eccleston.  

He won his fourth career title, and a British record seventh medal, at the Olympics and London 2012 chief Lord Coe - himself the recipient of a lifetime achievement award - hailed sport's "rock star".

"He's more than just a fantastic ambassador. He's edgy and got that slightly risky feel to him," said Coe.

At the after-show party, Wiggins joined the house band on stage as he played guitar to songs by The Jam and Oasis.

He won the coveted award in a year where seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong was stripped of his titles for doping.

Tom Fordyce Chief sports writer, BBC Sport

"How could it have been better? 2012 was the year of Super Saturday, of the Miracle at Medinah, of a Weirwolf on the prowl and the fastest moving set of sideburns since Elvis Presley"

Dave Brailsford, named top coach for his work with Team Sky and Great Britain, said: "It's important that we can demonstrate you can win the biggest races clean and that is what Bradley is doing.

"He's a fantastic athlete who works extremely hard.

"What he did was quite remarkable. The series of wins he had this year was better than any other cyclist. If you add in the element of personality, then he certainly has that."

Aside from the Tour, where he wore the leader's yellow jersey for more than half the gruelling 3,500 kilometre route, Wiggins also triumphed at Paris-Nice, the Tour of Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine.

Olympic heptathlon champion Ennis, who was third in the 2009 and 2010 awards, praised the winner.

"Bradley was the favourite and it's incredible what he's achieved winning the Tour de France. You would never have thought a British man would do that," she said.

"To then go on and win Olympic gold medal in London, it's very well deserved.

"I'm biased and would love to have seen Mo in the top three but everyone deserved to be up there. It was a really tough decision."

When Wiggins arrived for the 59th year of the awards, he joked when a security guard blocked his path: "But I'm a nominee."

Not just a nominee, but a winner, albeit one who is not completely at home in the limelight.

Wiggins joined the band on stage for two numbers He played along to That's Entertainment by The Jam Guests joined in as he strummed along to Wonderwall by Oasis While other contenders stopped, posed and chatted, he breezed past photographers and reporters on the red carpet.

"I find all the attention a bit hard. I'm nervous. It's an honour to be here, and I don't think I'll be up for the award again," he said.

Wiggins was the fourth cyclist, and the third in the last five years, to win the award after Tommy Simpson (1965), Sir Chris Hoy (2008) and Mark Cavendish (2011).

Cavendish worked selflessly to help Wiggins win the Tour and said he hopes his friend and team-mate, who was ninth in the 2008 awards, will cherish the BBC prize.

"It's not something you can work towards. It's bestowed on you," said Cavendish.

"The public have given it to you and that has to be respected."

The main award was one of eight given on the night, with the honours dominated by the stars of London 2012.

Great Britain's Olympic and Paralympic squads were named joint team of the year, sprinter Usain Bolt claimed the Overseas Personality honour, while Paralympic swimmer Josef Craig took the Young Personality prize.

Martine Wright, who played sitting volleyball at the 2012 Paralympics seven years after surviving the London bombings, won the Helen Rollason Award in memory of the former BBC presenter.

Sue and Jim Houghton were given the Unsung Hero Award after setting up a community sports centre in Leicestershire.

Below are the results of the phone voting for the 2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year main award:

Total votes: 1,626,718

1. Bradley Wiggins 492,064 (30.25%)

2. Jessica Ennis 372,765 (22.92%)

3. Andy Murray 230,444 (14.17%)

4. Mo Farah 131,327 (8.07%)

5. David Weir 114,633 (7.05%)

6. Ellie Simmonds 102,894 (6.33%)

7. Sir Chris Hoy 42,961 (2.64%)

8. Nicola Adams 35,560 (2.19%)

9. Ben Ainslie 35,373 (2.17%)

10. Rory McIlroy 29,729 (1.83%)

11. Katherine Grainger 28,626 (1.76%)

12. Sarah Storey 10,342 (0.64%)

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