Olympian Hannah Miley thought Queen's Birthday Honours letter was a speeding ticket

Triple Olympic swimmer Hannah Miley has been made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Hannah, who grew up in Inverurie, told Original 106 that since moving, the letter containing the news was sent to her parents' house. Her mum had to hand-deliver the letter. 

"I initially thought I was in trouble," she said. "I thought 'is this a speeding ticket or a fine?' because it just looked very official. It hadn't twigged, even though it said the Cabinet Office up at the top, it just didn't twig. And then I opened it and I had to re-read the first paragraph several times and I just burst into tears. I showed it to my mum and she burst into tears. 

"So, we had a lovely mother-daughter moment where she was there with me when I got the news." 

Made an MBE for services to swimming and women in sport, her career started at Garioch Amateur Swimming Club, where she was coached by her father.

She would go on to represent Great Britain at European and World Championships, and the OIympic Games, and represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, winning 50 medals across the world stage.

Hannah retired in December 2021 at the age of 32, and says it feels "poignant" to be awarded the MBE at the end of her career.

She said: "What I've done in my sport, you don't do it for the reward at the end of it. I did it because I really enjoyed what I was doing. And the work that I'm now doing for women in sport came from my passion and drive. So without it, I wouldn't be doing what I'm currently doing, so I owe a lot to sport.

"But I feel very honoured and privileged and proud to have this award."

During the coronavirus pandemic, she gave hundreds of free online classes to clubs, swimmers and organisations to help inspire and motivate anyone needing support with nutrition, exercise and motivation.

And she is also working on a programme to help educate women on menstrual health.

She added: "Swimming was my job, it was my career, I chose to do that. So, to get recognised for that as well as for my work in women in sport, it's given me a huge motivator. That it can and will make an impact in hopefully the next generations to come and the ones that are currently in sport.

"I don't do it for the accolades, I do it because I want to be able to make an impact."