Rio heroes awarded Freedom of the Borough

LOCAL heroes who were part of Team GB’s success at this year’s Olympics in Rio have been awarded Freedom of the Borough in Cheshire East in a special meeting by Cheshire East Council.

Track cyclists Laura and Jason Kenny were two of the seven athletes and Paralympians honoured. The couple, who live in Chelford in Cheshire East, married at St Alban’s Catholic Church in Macclesfield in September.

Boltonian Kenny is now joint holder of the highest number of Olympic gold medals for a British athlete and Laura Kenny has four Olympic gold medals, having won both the team pursuit and the omnium at both the 2012 and 2016 games. She is Great Britain’s most successful Olympic female competitor in any sport.

Also honoured was Sir Philip Craven, now living in Cheshire East, who is president of the International Olympic Committee and who has played a major role in the huge success story of Team GB’s Paralympians.

Paralympian Libby Clegg, who was born in Stockport, was honoured as were fellow Paralympian’s Megan Giglia, who is from Manchester, Bryony Page, who was born in Crewe and Nantwich’s Andy Small. Sophie Thornhill, from Poynton, was also honoured at the event which took place at Crewe Lifestyle Centre.

The mayor, Cllr Olivia Hunter, said: “I am absolutely delighted that my term in office has coincided with the Olympic and Paralympic Games and equally delighted that athletes with a link to Cheshire East did so remarkably well in those games, mirroring the tremendous achievements of Team GB.

“The members, officers and citizens of the borough are truly proud of the achievements of those being honoured.”

Deputy leader Cillr David Brown praised Sir Philip’s dedication to sport and his own personal achievements as a wheelchair basketball player, winning gold medals in various top-level events, including the Commonwealth Games.