Celebrations ‘on ice’ as skaters honoured

LEGENDARY PAIR ARE RECOGNISED FOR INCREDIBLE CAREERS

- By MARK STANIFORTH

JAYNE Torvill and Christopher Dean have been awarded a damehood and a knighthood in the New Year Honours.

Dame Jayne, 68, and Sir Christopher, 67, are recognised for services to ice skating and to voluntary service, almost 42 years after dancing to Olympic gold in Sarajevo in 1984.

England women’s football head coach Sarina Wiegman has been awarded an honorary damehood after leading the Lionesses to a successful defence of their European Championship title and several of her team have also been honoured.

Elsewhere, there is recognition for members of England’s winning team in the Women's Rugby Union World Cup.

Torvill and Dean’s respective honours provide a fitting end to a year in which they completed their final tour before retirement.

“It seems perfect really, the timing of it,” Dame Jayne told the Press Association news agency.

“We did our final tour this year and that was a big thing for us. We had such a great time, we were so happy with the tour and the fact we got through it”

Sir Christopher confirmed there will be no second thoughts about returning to the ice as Dame Jayne and Sir Christopher respectively, adding: “Happy now - retired, that’s it.