Paralympic gold medallist David Weir has suggested that disabled athletes have to do more than their Olympic counterparts to be recognised for their success.
Weir's views come after the New Year Honours List was revealed and he was awarded a CBE following a four gold medal haul at this summer's London Games.
However, Olympic cyclist Bradley Wiggins, British Cycling performance director Dave Brailsford and sailor Ben Ainslie have been knighted.
Paralympic cyclist Sarah Storey is to become a dame after taking her gold medal tally to 11 to match Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson's record and Weir feels that Storey should have reached this milestone much earlier.
"I would have been disappointed if Sarah Storey had not been made a dame because she deserves it with 11 gold medals," Weir told The Telegraph.
"It's a weird one how they choose it. Sometimes it seems that Paralympians have to win lots and lots of medals to get a damehood or a knighthood.
"Kelly Holmes was made a dame when she won two gold medals, but it seems we have to get into double figures to get it. Storey should have been awarded this years ago, and I just feel that sometimes we are left out perhaps because we are not in the public eye."
Weir is the only disabled athlete among five CBEs with only two Paralympians receiving OBEs in the list published today.
Pascal Lemesre
