Murray receives knighthood

Andy Murray received a knighthood in Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s Honours list on Friday, recognition from the monarch for reaching the pinnacle of tennis by winning his second Wimbledon and Olympic titles on his way to topping the rankings.

The 29-year-old Murray was previously named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, or OBE, in 2012 after becoming Olympic champion for the first time.

Joining Murray in being knighted in British sports is Mo Farah, who retained his 5,000- and 10,000-meter titles at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August, becoming the first British track and field athlete to win four Olympic gold medals.

Andy Murray is the youngest man (in living memory) to receive a knighthood. Never before has an active tennis player received the honour.

— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) December 30, 2016

Murray played down the possibility of knighthood when it was speculated after his stunning 2016 season, during which he also rose to world No.1 for the first time.

“Obviously it is the highest honour you can get in this country. But I feel like I’m too young for something like that,” he said.

“When I win any award or am presented with anything it is nice because it is recognition for what you have given your life to – up to now anyway.

“I am still young and there are still a lot of things that can go wrong. I could still mess up and make mistakes. I am just trying to keep doing what I am doing, working hard and achieving stuff.”

What a year for Sir Andy Murray

???? Wimbledon
???? Olympics
???? Becomes a Dad
World number 1??#SPOTY ????
Knighted ????https://t.co/DvR0NdVqJm pic.twitter.com/pEK9aa2E00

— BBC 5 live Sport (@5liveSport) December 30, 2016

Lee Pearson, who won his 11th Paralympic gold in equestrian in Rio, was also knighted. He already held the MBE, OBE and CBE for services to equestrianism and to disabled sport.

Damehoods went to heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill and rower Katherine Grainger, who both retired from competitive action following the Rio Olympics.

Ennis-Hill added silver in Rio to her gold at London, as did Grainger, who came out of retirement to compete in the double sculls alongside Vicky Thornley.

Knights are addressed as “Sir” or “Dame.” Recipients of the other honors have no title, but can put the letters after their names. The ranks for the Orders of the British Empire are Commander, Officer and Member, in descending order.

Away from the Olympics, Wales manager Chris Coleman was awarded an OBE for steering his national football team into its first semifinal at the European Championship.

Northern Ireland was eliminated by Wales at Euro 2016 in the round of 16 but its manager, Michael O’Neill, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, or MBE.

Britain’s honors are bestowed by the monarch, but recipients are selected by committees of civil servants from nominations made by the government and the public.