Bradley Wiggins knighted in 2013 New Year Honours List Cyclist Bradley Wiggins has been knighted in the New Year Honours list after winning the Tour de France and then gold at the 2012 London Olympics. The first Briton ever to win the Tour, 32-year-old Wiggins is joined in being knighted by GB cycling's performance director Dave Brailsford. Four-time Olympic sailing champion Ben Ainslie is also knighted, along with GB rowing chief Dave Tanner. Paralympian Sarah Storey is made a dame for her services to para-cycling. Brailsford on "weird" knighthood Before switching to para-cycling, Storey won five Paralympic swimming golds - two at Barcelona in 1992, and three in Atlanta four years later. At the London Paralympics she claimed four cycling golds to add to the two she won at the 2008 Beijing Games. "It's an incredible feeling," Storey said. It's hard to put into words other than just it is the greatest honour. Storey's 11 Paralympic titles are only matched by legendary wheelchair athlete Baroness Grey-Thompson and swimmer Dave Roberts, while her collection of 22 medals of all colours is unsurpassed. Four knights and one dame Ben Ainslie: For services to sailing. Dave Brailsford: For services to cycling and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sarah Storey: For services to para-cycling. David Tanner: For services to rowing and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Bradley Wiggins: For services to cycling. She added: "I can't believe the number of times we've said this year, 'Oh, can 2012 possibly get any better?' We feel so fortunate that 2012 will always stand out as being the most incredible year. The 2013 list is dominated by athletes and coaches from the Olympics and Paralympics after their inspirational success this summer. The knighthood caps a dream year for Wiggins - who was named the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year in December 2012 - after he won the Tour in July and the Olympic time trial in August. He called the honour the "ultimate accolade," adding he felt it was acknowledgment not only of his achievements in 2012 but over the past 12 years. Bradley Wiggins wins Olympic gold in cycling time trial "I never ever imagined that I would ever become a knight so it's an incredible honour but there's a slight element of disbelief, and it will take a while to sink in," said Wiggins. It's not something I'll use on a daily basis but it's nice to have in the trophy cabinet as the ultimate accolade as a sportsman, being knighted by your country for not only the success this year but 12 years now of consistent work and performing - four Olympic Games, seven medals. It's more the recognition of that, so it's fantastic. Wiggins was aided in that success by Brailsford, who not only oversaw Wiggins's victory in the Tour as Team Sky boss but also masterminded Britain's dominance in cycling at the Olympics and Paralympics. "It is quite humbling and it really is something to try to get my head around," said Brailsford. I'm very lucky and aware that the sport of cycling has grown and that we have had great success because it is a team effort over a long, long period of time. Ainslie, who retired from Olympic sailing in November, has more medals from the Games than any other sailor. After winning silver in Atlanta in 1996, he went on to take gold in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London. Dame Sarah Storey: "It's unbelievable that's my new title" He is fourth in the list of Britain's all-time individual medallists behind Sir Chris Hoy (cycling: six gold, one silver), Sir Steve Redgrave (rowing: five gold, one bronze) and Wiggins (cycling: four gold, one silver, two bronze). The 35-year-old, who in 2013 will attempt to win the Americas Cup, admitted he never dreamt of being knighted when he began Olympic sailing more than 20 years ago. "This is an incredible honour," he added. I couldn't have achieved this honour without the support of all the people who have helped me throughout my career and so I hope they can also take some pride in this moment. Tanner has been GB rowing's performance director since 1996, leading it through the most successful period in its history. Britain won three medals at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, four in Athens in 2004, and six at Beijing 2008 before taking nine, including four gold, at London 2012. Andy Murray, who also won gold at the Games, becomes an OBE. After his men's singles victory at London 2012 the Scot became the first British man in 76 years to win a Grand Slam tournament when he triumphed at the US Open in September. Ainslie Knighthood 'proud moment' Others from the world of sport who are recognised for their contributions include former England cricketers Mark Ramprakash and Robert Croft, ex-Arsenal assistant manager Pat Rice and former rugby league star Paul Sculthorpe. All are appointed MBEs. Former Wales and Lions wing JJ Williams also becomes an MBE for services to rugby and charity in Wales. And David Sheepshanks, the joint-acting chairman of the Football Association, is appointed a CBE. He oversaw the building of the National Football Centre near Burton, which opened in October, and was chairman of Ipswich Town for 13 years from 1995 to 2008. Knighthood: Ben Ainslie - sailing, Bradley Wiggins - cycling CBE: Katherine Grainger - rowing, Jessica Ennis - athletics, Mo Farah - athletics, Victoria Pendleton - cycling OBE: Charlotte Dujardin - equestrian, Jason Kenny - cycling, Andy Murray - tennis, Laura Trott - cycling MBE: Nicola Adams - boxing, Tim Baillie - canoeing, Laura Bechtolsheimer - equestrian, Scott Brash - equestrian, Alistair Brownlee - triathlon, Steven Burke - cycling, Luke Campbell - boxing, Peter Charles - equestrian, Katherine Copeland - rowing, Helen Glover - rowing, Alex Gregory - rowing, Carl Hester - equestrian, Philip Hindes - cycling, Sophie Hosking - rowing, Jade Jones - taekwondo, Anthony Joshua - boxing, Peter Kennaugh - cycling, Dani King - cycling, Mary King - equestrian, Ben Maher - equestrian, Ed McKeever - canoeing, Joanna Rowsell - cycling, Greg Rutherford - athletics, Louis Smith - gymnastics, Heather Stanning - rowing, Etienne Stott - canoeing, Anna Watkins - rowing, Peter Wilson - shooting. Dame: Sarah Storey - cycling CBE: David Weir - athletics OBE: Sophie Christiansen - equestrian, Ellie Simmonds - swimming MBE: Jessica-Jane Applegate - athletics, Natasha Baker - equestrian, Danielle Brown - archery, Mickey Bushell - athletics, Hannah Cockroft - athletics, Mark Colbourne - cycling, Josef Craig - swimming, Deborah Criddle - equestrian, Aled Davies - athletics, Neil Fachie - cycling, Jonathan Fox - swimming, Heather Frederiksen - swimming, Oliver Hynd - swimming, Helena Lucas - sailing, Craig MacLean - cycling, Nigel Murray - boccia, Jonnie Peacock - athletics, Josie Pearson - athletics, Pam Relph - rowing, Naomi Riches - rowing, James Roe - rowing, David Smith - rowing, Lily van den Broecke - rowing, Sophie Wells - equestrian, Richard Whitehead - athletics.