SIA 09: Beijing Olympic Stars Honoured
In light of the record-breaking medal-winning performances in Beijing last summer Team GB and Paralympics GB were honoured at the Sport Industry Awards 2009 with the Virgin Active Outstanding Contribution to British Sport Award.
A number of the Beijing gold medal winners, including cyclist Victoria Pendleton and sailor Ben Ainslie, were present to collect the award from one of the most legendary Olympians of all time, multi-gold medallist athlete Michael Johnson.
Finishing a record fourth in the final medal table, Team GB’s picked up 47 medals, including 19 golds, in Beijing – the most it has ever won in a modern Olympic Games. The incredible achievement created a new raft of sporting heroes overnight, and has triggered a high anticipation and sense of national pride in the run-up to London 2012.
Team GB and Paralympics GB succeed the likes of former England football captain David Beckham and Paralympic multi-gold medallist Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson in winning this prestigious award in previous years.
