New Years honours committee made 'big mistake' in not recognising more Paralympic athletes, says Gerry Sutcliffe We managed to get them to change their mind and have a separate category for Olympians and Paralympians. There was an opportunity to be consistent and if you look at his record over several Olympics I think the least he should have got is a knighthood. Because the whole purpose of the Games was to inspire a generation - and how better to inspire a generation of Paralympians than to give somebody a knighthood? Paralympic cyclist Sarah Storey, who matched Weir with four gold medals at the London Games, was given the highest honour of all Paralympians when she was made a dame. Olympians Ben Ainslie and Bradley Wiggins were given knighthoods for their Olympic golds and lifetime achievements. A majority (53 per cent) of Telegraph Sport readers voting in an online poll said they too believed Weir should have been knighted. "I am absolutely honoured and delighted to receive this award," Weir told Telegraph Sport.