Six of Aquatics GB's outstanding performers from across the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games have been recognised for their achievements in the New Year's Honours List for 2025.
Alice Tai and Tully Kearney will become OBEs (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for services to swimming after clinching a pair of Paralympic titles apiece at La Defense Arena during a stunning Games for the ParalympicsGB swimmers. Tai won five medals in total - including those Women's S8 50m Freestyle and 100m Backstroke crowns - and Kearney recorded a memorable S5 100m-200m Freestyle double in the space of 48 hours.
Duncan Scott, meanwhile, is honoured for becoming Britain's third-most decorated Olympian of all time by being given an OBE. The eight-time Olympic medallist - the first Team GB swimmer in history to win multiple medals at three successive Games - was part of a history-making Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay title defence (alongside James Guy, Tom Dean, Matt Richards, Jack McMillan and Kieran Bird), before claiming Men's 200m Individual Medley silver.
"I'm truly humbled to be recognised in the New Year Honours list. This OBE is not just mine - it’s a reflection of the amazing support and dedication of my team and the swimming community," said Duncan.
"It [2024] was an incredible year, and I couldn’t be prouder to start 2025 with this honour."
As well as the OBEs for Tai and Kearney, three more of Aquatics GB's Paris Paralympic champions have earned inclusion among a star-studded list of sportspeople on this year's New Year's Honours, with Poppy Maskill, Stephen Clegg and William Ellard all achieving MBEs (Member of the Order of the British Empire).
Maskill enjoyed a dream Paralympic debut, winning three golds and two silvers - and breaking the Women's S14 100m Butterfly world record - to finish as ParalympicsGB's most-decorated athlete of the Games and then carrying the Union flag at the Closing Ceremony.
Speaking on this latest landmark moment for the year, Poppy said: "It means a lot. I feel honoured to get this award and very grateful for the opportunity."
Clegg won his maiden Paralympic titles at his third Games, breaking a world record in the Men's S12 100m Backstroke and also striking S12 100m Butterfly gold, while Games debutant Ellard was another world-record breaker - in the S14 200m Freestyle - as he won a pair of golds, in that 200m Freestyle and as part of a brilliant Mixed S14 4x100m Freestyle Relay setup.
Aquatics GB would like to congratulate all those receiving honours in the 2025 New Year's Honours List, including Katherine Batts, recognised for voluntary service to swimming and the Royal Life Saving Society at City of Rochester Swimming and Lifeguard Club.
William Wyatt, the chair of Halliwick Association of Swimming Therapy, also receives an MBE for services to disabled people, while Karen Kelly, the head coach at Lanark Amateur Swimming Club, is awarded a British Empire Medal for voluntary service.
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Tully Kearney - services to swimming
Duncan Scott - services to swimming
Alice Tai - services to swimming
Member of the Order of the British Empire
Stephen Clegg - services to swimming
William Ellard - services to swimming
Poppy Maskill - services to swimming