Paris 2024 athletes to get borough's top honour

Kimberley Woods won two bronze medals at the 2024 Olympics in Paris

Medal winners from this summer's Olympics and Paralympics are set to be given the freedom of their home borough.

Rugby Borough Council bosses said they would invite athletes from the area who competed at the Paris games to a civic reception.

Those who won a podium spot – including slalom canoeist Kimberley Wood, who took bronze medals in women’s slalom K1 and kayak cross - will be granted the authority’s highest accolade.

All future medal winners would also be honoured automatically, council leaders decided.

Portfolio holder for partnerships and wellbeing Maggie O’Rourke said she was keen for the authority to recognise those who had represented the area on the global stage.

“It is important for the borough of Rugby to celebrate and honour these achievements, and the determination and hard work of those who have a connection to our borough,” she said.

“The council is very proud of its sporting heritage and wishes to ensure we continue to celebrate new achievements as part of this council’s commitment to loving our town.”

Councillors were looking forward to hearing the local athletes’ stories and what they have planned next in their sporting careers, she said.

Council leader Michael Moran said he hoped the proposal would form part of a much wider sporting legacy.

“The celebrated Olympians and Paralympians are just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

“With a policy to extend sport and participation throughout the borough, we can hopefully make much more of this and we look forward to doing that.”

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.