'All I do is ride a bike!' Modest cycling heroine Laura Kenny plays down her CBE as she and husband Jason (and their baby bump) get gongs from Princess Anne with fellow Rio Olympians

Advertisement

Laura and Jason Kenny are pictured after they were awarded CBEs for services to cycling at Buckingham Palace today

Four-time Olympic champion Laura Kenny said it was a 'huge honour' to be made a CBE alongside her husband Jason during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace today.

The 25-year-old cyclist, who lives in Cheshire and is expecting her first child, said: 'I almost feel like I don't deserve it - there's service people and it's such a huge honour, but I feel like all I do is ride a bike.'

She added that 'nothing compares' to being given the award, despite announcing her pregnancy, getting married and winning two gold Olympic medals in the last 12 months.

Mrs Kenny's baby bump was clearly visible in photographs taken before and after today's ceremony.

She said she was still 'doing bits and bobs - I'm doing about two hours of exercise a day' but admitted that she was enjoying having some time off from training.

'It's actually nice - me and Jason are spending a lot more time together. We're doing things we never really did, like going down to my parents' house, for example.'

She said the Princess Royal, who led the investiture ceremony, asked her 'what it was like to have a break, to have a bit of time off - because obviously she's from a sporting background herself so she knows what it's like.

'So that was nice for her to say and actually realise that I haven't had a break since 2010.'

Mr Kenny, who was also made a CBE for his services to cycling, described the day as 'mega', and said he was still considering whether to aim for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Speaking after the ceremony, he said: 'I'm still training, just ticking over, just relaxing, letting the dust settle. Obviously we've got an extra family member coming at the end of the year.' 

Mrs Kenny is awarded a CBE by the Princess Royal  during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London today

Mrs Kenny is awarded a CBE by the Princess Royal during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London today

Mrs Kenny beams with delight as she is given the honour by Princess Anne
She received the award for her services to cycling

Mrs Kenny beams with delight as she is given the honour by Princess Anne today for her services to cycling

Mrs Kenny could not contain her delight as she given the CBE during the investiture ceremony in London today

Mrs Kenny could not contain her delight as she given the CBE during the investiture ceremony in London today

Mrs Kenny, who has ten Olympic gold medals when she counts her husband's as well, was given the award by Princess Anne

Mrs Kenny, who has ten Olympic gold medals when she counts her husband's as well, was given the award by Princess Anne

He said he was 'excited' but 'a little bit worried' about juggling being a father with training for another Olympic Games. 'If it fits, it fits, and if it doesn't then I'll do something else.'

Mrs Kenny, who has been named in Great Britain's cycling squad for the build-up to the Tokyo Olympics alongside her husband, said she had received advice from fellow athletes Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and Dame Sarah Storey.

She said it had 'been good to see how they split their time' between training and parenting, and that she was 'excited about the adventure' of becoming a mother.

'I know it's going to be a lot harder than the last two Games but it's something that I'm really looking forward to - it brings a new element to it.'

The cyclist said it was 'the right time' to have a baby, and that the couple had 'wanted to try for a baby straight after Rio'.

'I love cycling and it is my career but I never wanted it to define me, and it seems funny because everyone's like "Oh, but you're so young, like why would you choose to do it now?" and it's like "Because I also have a life". 

'I'm also living my life and it's the life I always thought that I wanted. I always wanted to be a young mum - so now felt like the right time.'

Olympic gold medallists Mr Kenny is also awarded a CBE for services to cycling at Buckingham Palace from the Princess Royal

Olympic gold medallists Mr Kenny is also awarded a CBE for services to cycling at Buckingham Palace from the Princess Royal

Mr Kenny was clearly also excited to be attending the investiture ceremony which honoured Team GB's Olympic heroes

Mr Kenny was clearly also excited to be attending the investiture ceremony which honoured Team GB's Olympic heroes

Mr Kenny contributed to Team GB's medal haul at the Rio Olympics
Mr Kenny specialises in the individual and team sprint

Mr Kenny, who specialises in the individual and team sprint, contributed to Team GB's medal haul at the Rio Olympics

The nation's favourite cycling couple received accolades for the string of gold medals they won for Team GB at Rio 2016

The nation's favourite cycling couple received accolades for the string of gold medals they won for Team GB at Rio 2016

Four-time Olympic champion Mrs Kenny's baby bump was clearly visible in photographs taken before the ceremony today

Four-time Olympic champion Mrs Kenny's baby bump was clearly visible in photographs taken before the ceremony today

Mrs Kenny said it 'wonderful' to be made a CBE alongside her husband Jason during the Buckingham Palace ceremony

Mrs Kenny said it 'wonderful' to be made a CBE alongside her husband Jason during the Buckingham Palace ceremony

She said 'enough people' have come back to sport after having a baby, which gave her the confidence that she could do it too. 'Tokyo is the aim,' she added.

The golden couple said they were planning to celebrate after the ceremony with afternoon tea at the Ritz.

The Kenny couple, who both received CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) accolades from Princess Anne, got married in September.

Also honoured today was showjumping champion Nick Skelton who said he is 'proud' of what he has done for his sport and the country over seven Olympic Games as he was made a CBE.

The 59-year-old, who announced his retirement earlier this month, sported a black eye when he received the honour at Buckingham Palace from fellow horse rider the Princess Royal. 

Speaking after the ceremony, he said Princess Anne had asked how the injury came about.

'She said 'I hope that was horse-related' - but it actually wasn't, I fell and hit a wall, and then we were talking about just the horses in general and what I'm doing and what I'm going to do now that I'm retired.'

Skelton, who was made an OBE after the London Olympics, said it was 'a great honour to be upgraded'.

Showjumping champion Nick Skelton, who became Britain's second-oldest gold medallist  at Rio 2016, was also honoured

Showjumping champion Nick Skelton, who became Britain's second-oldest gold medallist at Rio 2016, was also honoured

The 59-year-old showjumping champion from Warwickshire retired from the sport earlier this month
Skelton is made a CBE

The 59-year-old showjumping champion from Warwickshire retired from the sport earlier this month

Skelton is made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) by the Princess Royal during the investiture ceremony

Skelton is made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) by the Princess Royal during the investiture ceremony

He said he is 'very proud to receive it, and proud of what I've done for the sport and for the country'.

The Warwickshire rider won individual gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016, having helped Great Britain win team gold at the London Games.

He admitted he is a little bit sad to be retiring, but said while he 'won't be competing' he will 'be doing everything else'. 

He added: 'I'll miss the competing and the winning and the Olympics and things like that, and all the championships, but at some time it has to come to an end and I've thought long and hard about it and I think now is the right time really.'

Skelton retired alongside his gold-medal winning ride Big Star, who is now breeding, but he said he still rides him to 'keep him fit'. He added of his horse: 'He's having a good retirement.'

Five Olympic rowers who won gold in the men's eight at Rio were also honoured at the ceremony.

Paul Bennett, 28, Scott Durant, 29, Matthew Gotrel, 28, and cox Phelan Hill, 37, were made MBEs, while crew-mate Lieutenant Pete Reed received an OBE.

Speaking after the ceremony, three-time Olympic gold medallist Lt Reed said: 'It's an honour beyond anything.

Art director Dame Julia Peyton-Jones was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by the Princess Royal today

Art director Dame Julia Peyton-Jones was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by the Princess Royal today

Dame Julia from London hit the headlines earlier this year when she became one of the UK's oldest mothers aged 64

Dame Julia from London hit the headlines earlier this year when she became one of the UK's oldest mothers aged 64

England footballers Alexandra Scott (left) and Karen Carney (right) were among the other athletes to be recognised today

England footballers Alexandra Scott (left) and Karen Carney (right) were among the other athletes to be recognised today

Hannah Mills after she was awarded an MBE for services to sailing by the Princess Royal during the investiture ceremony

Hannah Mills after she was awarded an MBE for services to sailing by the Princess Royal during the investiture ceremony

Nicholas Skelton after he was awarded a CBE
Alexandra Scott (left) and Karen Carney

(From left) Skelton, Scott and Carney were recognised at Buckingham Palace for their services to their respective sports

'Crossing the finish line in Rio was my job, it was a relief and it was exciting, it was the happiest time of my life really with the greatest men to do it with and a very special time, but that's not the honour - this is the honour.

'The recognition from Her Majesty and from the public as well - you don't do it for that but it makes you glow warmly that someone's noticed - all we're doing is our job.'

The 35-year-old, from Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, said he has his sights set firmly on Tokyo 2020, but his crew-mates had retired.

Mr Gotrel said the day was a 'bit of a shock to us, especially when we're used to the environment of being in lycra everyday - but it's really nice and it's a privilege to be here'. 

In addition, a number of Paralympians were honoured at the ceremony, including archers Joanna Frith, John Walker and Jessica Stretton.

Rachel Morris, who has won gold medals in cycling and rowing, also received an award.

Olympic sailor Hannah Mills and England footballers Alexandra Scott and Karen Carney were among the other athletes being recognised. 

Ms Carney, 29, from Birmingham, said the honour is 'great for women's football and to get recognised is massive, and I just hope that there's a lot more who get recognised with their successes as well'.

Mrs Kenny, formerly known as Laura Trott, married six-time Olympic champion Mr Kenny, 28, in September

Mrs Kenny, formerly known as Laura Trott, married six-time Olympic champion Mr Kenny, 28, in September

Mr Kenny celebrates with Mrs Kenny, who was then known as Laura Trott, after the men's keirin finals race at Rio last August

Mr Kenny celebrates with Mrs Kenny, who was then known as Laura Trott, after the men's keirin finals race at Rio last August

Londoner Ms Scott, 32, said receiving the award was a 'very proud moment'.

She added: 'I looked at my family and I started welling-up a bit, because I suppose it brings it all together - what you've done and the journey I've been on.'

She said she 'never thought' she would receive 'such an honour', having started playing in a football cage on concrete. 'That was the dream then to be a professional footballer, and now I'm here.' 

Mills, who won gold at Rio alongside crew partner Saskia Clark, said the ceremony was 'nerve-wracking'.

'I wasn't at all actually until I was stood in a line waiting watching other people thinking 'am I going to mess this up? - but everyone was very welcoming.'

The 29-year-old, from Cardiff, said Princess Anne asked 'if I had had any luck finding a new partner' following her crewmate's retirement.

Since Rio, Ms Mills has changed boats and said: 'This year is about learning as much as we possibly can - so for me a new boat is exciting, it means I'm upping my skill level - whatever boat I end up sailing I'll be a better sailor for it.

'It's just a new challenge and I'm loving it, and I think this first year if you can still be loving your sport and enjoying the training and excited to get fit and everything again then it's a good place to be because it's a long cycle - you can't expect everything to happen in year one.' 

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.