Paralympian snubbed in New Year honours list

Jan 4 2009 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

FRIENDS of paralympic champ Stephen Miller have launched a campaign calling for him to be given an award in the Honours List.

Stephen, 28, of Cramlington, Northumberland, has won three golds and a silver medal in a 12-year career, and he hopes to add to his impressive collection at the London Olympics in 2012.

However, despite his achievements, Stephen has yet to see his efforts officially recognised with a gong.

Friends and family have set up a group on social networking site Facebook called “Why was Steven Miller not in the New Years Honours List?”, which last night had more than 200 members.

Stephen said: “Obviously, it would be great to receive anything, but it’s not something I personally aspire to.

“The day it happens I will be very pleased, but it’s not something I expect.

“As for the Facebook group, it’s so nice that people recognise my achievements and it’s always nice to have people fighting your corner.”

Stephen’s mum Ros, who is also his coach, said: “Stephen is very philosophical about it but I feel very disappointed for him because he has worked so hard over the years, in the community and as a role model, yet even after winning three golds he has got nothing.

“I think the campaign for him has well and truly started.”

Great Britain’s Paralympics team won 102 medals, including 42 golds, to finish second in the medals table behind China, making them Britain’s most successful Paralympics team in two decades. In the Olympics, Team GB came fourth in the Olympics medal table with a haul of 47 medals, including 19 golds, their best performance since the London Games of 1908.

Earlier in the week, the honours list board was accused of snubbing disabled athletes.

While all the Olympic gold medallists were recognised in the list, only 18 of the 35 gold-medal winning Paralympians were given honours. Tim Reddish, the newly-elected chairman of the British Paralympic Association, said: “We are delighted to see these Paralympic athletes recognised in the honours list for their contribution to British sport and their magnificent achievements.

“We are, however, very disappointed that not all the Beijing 2008 Paralympic gold medalists could be recognised, but we look forward to more athletes being honoured in the future.”

:: Should there have been equal recognition for able–bodied and disabled athletes in the Honours Lists? Click here to let us know what you think.