From Bolero to the Lionesses: Torvill & Dean and Wiegman Shine in the New Year Honours

The New Year Honours list has always been a moment for reflection, celebration and a quiet sense of national pride. This year, sport sits firmly at its heart. From the frozen perfection of an Olympic ice rink to the roar of packed football stadiums, the latest honours recognise figures whose influence has stretched far beyond medals and trophies. At the centre of it all are Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean and Sarina Wiegman – three names that, in very different ways, have helped define sporting excellence in Britain.

Torvill & Dean and a Legacy Etched in Ice and Memory

More than four decades on, it remains almost impossible to talk about British sport without mentioning Torvill & Dean. Their gold medal-winning performance at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, skated to Maurice Ravel’s Bolero, is not just a sporting moment but a cultural landmark. Perfect scores, absolute silence in the arena, and a routine that seemed to suspend time itself – it is still replayed, discussed and revered.

Now, that legacy has been formally recognised, with Jayne Torvill receiving a damehood and Christopher Dean being knighted in the New Year Honours. For a duo who spent their careers letting their skating do the talking, the recognition feels both overdue and deeply fitting.

Dean admitted as much when he described the honour as “wonderful and humbling”. It is a sentiment that resonates with anyone who watched their journey. Beyond the Sarajevo gold, Torvill & Dean were four-time world champions, four-time European champions and, remarkably, returned a decade later to win Olympic bronze in 1994. Longevity at that level is rare in any sport, let alone one as physically demanding as ice dancing.

Yet their impact did not end when competitive skating stopped. Through coaching, mentoring, touring shows and charity work, Torvill & Dean have remained ambassadors for their sport. The honours recognise not just what they achieved on the ice, but how they carried themselves off it – with grace, humility and a sense of responsibility to the next generation.

Sarina Wiegman and the Rise of the Lionesses

Jayne Torvill (left) and Christopher Dean performing on the ice at the Olympics in Sarejevo

If Torvill & Dean represent timeless excellence, Sarina Wiegman embodies the modern evolution of women’s sport. The England women’s manager has been awarded an honorary damehood, a special recognition reflecting her Dutch nationality and her extraordinary contribution to English football.

Wiegman’s achievements with the Lionesses speak for themselves. European champions in 2022, champions again in 2025, and a team transformed from talented outsiders into serial winners with an unshakeable belief. Under her guidance, England have not only won trophies but changed perceptions, filled stadiums and inspired a generation of girls to see football as a natural ambition rather than a distant dream.

What sets Wiegman apart is not just her tactical clarity, but her calm authority. In moments of pressure, her teams look prepared, resilient and united. She has spoken often about culture and standards, and the results suggest those words have been lived rather than merely spoken.

The honorary damehood feels symbolic. It acknowledges that Wiegman’s impact transcends nationality. She may be Dutch by birth, but her place in English sporting history is already secure.

New Year Honours and the Lionesses’ Golden Generation

The honours list does not stop with the head coach. Several members of the Lionesses squad are also recognised, underlining how collective success has driven individual acknowledgement.

England captain Leah Williamson has been appointed a CBE, adding to the OBE she received in 2023. At just 28, Williamson has already become one of the defining leaders of her era. A two-time European champion with England and a Champions League winner with Arsenal in 2025, her recognition feels as much about leadership and visibility as it does about silverware.

Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone all receive MBEs, reflecting the depth of talent and influence within the squad. These are players who have not only performed on the biggest stages, but have carried the weight of expectation with maturity and consistency. Their honours are a reminder that success at the top is rarely the work of one figure alone.

Honours for England’s Women’s Rugby World Cup Winners

Sarina Wiegman celebrates with the England players after winning the Uefa European Women’s Championship

Women’s rugby also enjoys a strong presence in the New Year Honours, following England’s recent World Cup triumph. Head coach John Mitchell, a New Zealander, is awarded an OBE, as is captain Zoe Stratford, formerly known as Aldcroft. Their leadership has been central to the Red Roses’ dominance, blending physical excellence with tactical discipline.

Vice-captains Marlie Packer and Megan Jones are also recognised, alongside Sadia Kabeya and Ellie Kildunne, who both receive MBEs. For Kildunne, the moment was deeply personal. She spoke candidly about receiving the news by email, unsure whether to laugh or cry, and immediately wanting to call her mother. It is these human reactions that often get lost behind the formal titles.

Jones’ story carries its own emotional weight. Having lost both parents last year, she spoke movingly about how proud they would have been. Her words were not polished soundbites, but honest reflections on gratitude, loss and the support of loved ones. In moments like these, honours become less about ceremony and more about meaning.

The Wider New Year Honours and Sport’s Broader Impact

Beyond headline names, the list is filled with figures who have shaped sport in quieter but equally important ways. Broadcasters such as Gabby Logan and Clive Tyldesley are recognised for their contribution to sports media and charity. Administrators, doctors, referees and grassroots champions appear throughout the honours, reminding us that sport’s ecosystem is vast and interconnected.

From Daniel Levy’s community work in Tottenham to Paula Radcliffe’s ongoing influence as an athlete and broadcaster, the New Year Honours reflect how sport touches education, health, equality and social cohesion. These awards are not simply about winning, but about service.

Torvill & Dean, Wiegman and a Shared Thread

What links Torvill & Dean and Sarina Wiegman is not their sport, era or background, but a shared commitment to excellence with integrity. They did not chase honours; they earned them through consistency, resilience and an understanding of their wider responsibility.

As the new year begins, these recognitions offer more than a roll call of names. They tell a story about how sport, at its best, can inspire, unite and endure. From a perfectly timed Bolero to back-to-back European titles, the achievements celebrated here will be remembered long after the medals and titles have been counted.

In that sense, the New Year Honours do exactly what they are meant to do: they pause time, if only briefly, and say thank you.