Kelly Sotherton tells of her pride at receiving MBE

Team Leader for England’s athletes at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Kelly Sotherton was at Windsor Castle on Wednesday to receive her MBE.

The three-time Olympic medalist was named in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her services to track and field athletics and the promotion of women’s sport.

The British heptathlete, who won gold for England at the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and bronze for Team GB at the 2007 World Championships, has brought her success from the track to now leading England’s athletes ahead of Birmingham 2022.

Speaking after the ceremony where she received the prestigious award from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Kelly said:

“It was an honour to receive my MBE from Prince Charles. We talked about how I got my last two medals from the doping scandal from 2008 and receiving them in 2018. He asked me what I am doing now, and I proudly mentioned I was the Team Leader for the England Athletics Team at next year’s Commonwealth Games.

“He asked, ‘How do you think you will do?’ and I told him, ‘Hopefully, Sir, we will win a lot of medals’. He smiled and we parted.”

“I was over the moon to receive an honour from the future King and coming a couple of days before my birthday made it a lot more special. It’s a day I will always remember, but also it’s an opportunity to remember the people who helped me get there especially those who are sadly no longer with us.”

Chris Jones, England Athletics CEO, said:

“We are all very proud that Kelly has been recognised in this way. Fulfilling the role of our Commonwealth Games Team Leader for Birmingham 2022, and as an inductee into the England Athletics Hall of Fame, it is timely that Kelly’s achievements as an international athlete have been acknowledged and it has given us all a sense of great pride as we look towards a successful home Games next year.”

Congratulations to Kelly on this honour from everyone at England Athletics.