Paralympic champion Ben Watson has added more success to his portfolio after being presented with an MBE.

Making a name for himself during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Ben arrived at his debut games as a keen cyclist and left as a double gold-winning champion.

The 33-year-old impressed the nation with his inspirational drive for achievement, securing his status as an inspirational British athlete.

Now, to celebrate his success, Ben has been appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for his services to cycling.

“I was invited to Windsor Castle and received my award from Princess Anne, which was an amazing experience.

“During Covid, you were only allowed one guest, but that’s recently been changed. I’m glad I was able to wait, as it meant both my partner, Alice, and my parents could come with me,” Ben said.

A highly secure ceremony, Ben said there was a range of incredible people in the castle, including military personnel and James Bond (Daniel Craig) himself.

The champion cyclist said it had ‘never even entered his mind’ to receive a title such as this.

Mirroring this feeling, Ben is still lost for words to explain his feelings surrounding his Paralympic success.

He has taken time this year to recharge away from competitions and medals, focusing his energy elsewhere.

“I’ve taken it easy this year, I think it’s important to recharge after the success of the Games.

“Me and my partner have moved to York, and so I’ve had a different focus over the last few months.

“I’ve still been riding a lot, just without many effort sessions. The World Championships didn’t go that well for me this year, but I think I needed that to galvanise me ahead of the next two years,” he said.

Ben now feels more motivated than ever to dive back into training and show what he is made of.

There’s an intense future on the cards for cyclists, with the UCI World Championships taking place in 2023 and the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, the clock has now begun ticking before these events arrive.

“I’m excited for Worlds in Glasgow. For the first time, they’re bringing together everything that UCI runs; para-sport, elite athletes, track, mountain, and cycle cross, to form a mini-Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“I would love to win a rainbow jersey, and also win a World Cup leaders jersey, so there’s still lots for me to achieve.

“The Games experience showed me that when I’m focused and on form, I believe that I’m unbeatable.

“It’s just about getting back into that mindset. And, as always, my aim is to just do my absolute best,” Ben said.

There’s a strong squad being formed within British Cycling, with heaps of new talent being brought up into the team.

But team goes beyond the track for Ben and his squad, who he says are incredibly supportive of each other.

“It’s amazing to see the team do well, Fin Graham has trained his heart out and has won world titles, Blaine Hunt has secured a new world record, and that’s just to name a few.

“We’ve also had some serious crashes this year, we support those athletes as much as we can too. That will always mean more than the medals and success.

“We’ve got such a successful squad, and it’s exciting to see what everyone can accomplish in the coming years. Having a supportive team inspires you to do better, and always perform to your best.”

Ben’s sights are set on the Paris 2024 Paralympics, where he aims to go and defend his titles. With his increased motivation and passion for the sport, it’s without question that Ben will go and put up a fight.

For now, he will jump back into training, pushing past his limits and challenging his beliefs.

Ben Watson MBE is an incredibly successful athlete, and there is still much he will achieve.

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