Welshpool's Paralympic gold medallist James Roberts said he is "thrilled" after being appointed an MBE in the New Year’s honours list for his services to wheelchair rugby.
The honour rounds off an outstanding year for the 34-year-old who was part of the first ever Great British and European wheelchair rugby team to win a Paralympic gold medal; an historic 54-49 victory over the USA with Roberts scoring 24 tries.
The award is a nod to his impressive international sporting career which has seen him win three European Championship gold medals and represent Team GB at two Paralympic Games including Rio and Tokyo.
Handout photo dated 29/08/2021 provided by ParalympicsGB/imagecomms of ParalympicsGB Wheelchair Rugby Team Mix, wins gold the Final, Great Britain vs USA, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games during day five of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Japan.
Speaking to the County Times, Roberts said it was "really amazing” to be recognised with an MBE in this year’s honours list, adding that it was a “great way to start the year”.
“It’s definitely been difficult to keep it quiet,” he said. “The reaction from home was brilliant, they are just chuffed to bits. It’s all come off from the back of the gold medal. My nan’s a massive Royalist so she was absolutely over the moon.
“I’d love to meet the Queen, that would be the absolute favourite.”
Looking back on 2021, he said: “It was an amazing year. Obviously, it would have been amazing to have friends and family to share that in Tokyo, but we’ve done plenty of celebrating since.”
Handout photo dated 29/08/2021 provided by ParalympicsGB/imagecomms of ParalympicsGB Wheelchair Rugby Team Mix, James Roberts aged 35, from Welshpool , competing in the final, Great Britain vs USA, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games during day five of the
Roberts was a successful Welsh cross-country runner when he caught bacterial meningitis while studying at university, which resulted in the amputation of both his legs. He was introduced to wheelchair rugby by a nurse who helped with his rehabilitation, and quickly became an influential player in the sport.
The Christ College, Brecon alumnus has played on both sides of the Atlantic – for Phoenix Heat in the winter and London WRC in the summer – winning national honours for both teams and gaining recognition as Most Valued Player at the US Nationals in 2015. He also obtained his Chartered Architectural Technologist in September 2020 while preparing for the Tokyo Paralympics.
No stranger to meeting the Royals, the Welshpool-born athlete was one of two Team GB members who helped Prince Harry play wheelchair rugby during a star-studded match during the inaugural Invictus Games in 2014 which included Mike and Zara Tindall, Dame Kelly Holmes and Denise Lewis. “It was a really cool thing to be a part of,” he said.
In December, he announced his retirement from the game.
“I definitely feel proud of my sporting career. I don’t think you can top winning gold at the Paralympics, he said. "Not many athletes get to sign off where they want to."
“It’s all about those high-pressure moments and being absolutely terrified before every game. I’m quite happy not to go through those nail-biting moments again to be honest."
He added: “I would never say never to returning to the sport, and I might miss it in a few years’ time. But I would like to get more involved in clay pigeon shooting, it’s something I did growing up.”
Proud of his Welsh roots, Roberts said he is looking forward to Cardiff hosting the European Championships in 2023. He is part of the board responsible for delivering the championship which includes former Wales rugby international Rupert Moon.
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