Triple Olympian Hannah Miley has received a MBE as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in recognition of her services to swimming and to women in sport.
*Lead picture courtesy of Euan Duff
Having made her debut British swimming team at the 2006 European Championships in Budapest, Miley's highly accomplished career between the lane ropes saw her crowned a European and twice Commonwealth champion before the deciding to hang up her competitive goggles in late 2021 with a total of twenty five international medals at major competitions to her name.
The former Garioch and Aberdeen University swimmer still holds the Women's 400m Individual Medley British record, and Miley who was coached by her father, Patrick, throughout her competitive career achieved great success in the event including; an unforgettable silver in Shanghai at the 2011 FINA World Championships, plus back to back Commonwealth Games titles - with the second of those coming on home soil for Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014.
Outside of her performances in the pool, Miley has also used her experiences to support younger female athletes by delivering workshops and talks, and in April this year joined the Unlocked programme run by the Women’s Sport Trust through which she will be further sharing her connections and experience in sport to help sportswomen tackle the issues and areas they feel passionate about.
Notification of Miley's accolade for services to swimming and to women in sport comes as the incredible public service of individuals across the UK is being recognised during a special year that also celebrates Her Majesty’s unprecedented 70 years of service, on HM The Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours List 2022.
On receiving the news, Miley said: "I feel a huge sense of honour and pride to be nominated for an MBE. It's emotional, almost like the feeling I had on the podium at Glasgow 2014. When you get the chance to reflect back in moments like these, you realise what an amazing, emotional and life changing journey it has been.
"Being honoured for not only my swimming career, but also for the work within 'Women in Sport' adds an overwhelming sense of pride and purpose following retirement from competitive swimming. Sport led me to find a passion around female health and education - I never set out on this path with the expectation of being rewarded but only with the desire to make an impact in empowering girls and women in sport.
![Hannah Miley Glasgow 2014 [Getty]](https://www.aquaticsgb.com/media/images/GettyImages-452611638.width-800.jpg)
"The workshops and talks delivered during lockdown gave me the opportunity not only to refocus myself while the pools remained shut but the chance to discover that new passion. My target is always to give girls and women the opportunity to enjoy and embrace being female while educating and future proofing their health."
A future visit to the palace to receive her medal will be a joyous family occasion, with Miley adding:
"To celebrate I think it will be a family affair, being able to be surrounded by loved ones. Delivering talks and workshops amid wedding planning is certainly keeping me busy but this has given me a huge confidence boost and I feel really proud and motivated to continue on my new journey."
British Swimming National Performance Director, Chris Spice commented: “We are all delighted to see Hannah honoured in this way on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
“With World and European medals to her name, as well as appearances in finals at three successive Olympic Games, it is a true testament to her extensive qualities that the award acknowledges not only the fantastic professionalism shown throughout her swimming career, but also the leadership demonstrated in services to women in sport and the ongoing impact Hannah exhibits as a role model to younger athletes.”
The full HM The Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours List 2022 can be found at www.gov.uk/honours/honours-lists.