HAMPSHIRE'S Olympic heroes today picked up yet more medals as they claimed pride of place on the New Year's Honours List.

Two of the county's Athens sailing heroes were awarded OBEs for services to their sport.

Double Olympic gold medallists Shirley Robertson, 36, from Cowes on the Isle of Wight, and Lymington-based Ben Ainslie, 27, received their awards following their triumphs during the summer's Olympics in Greece.

Robertson won a gold medal in the Yngling Class alongside Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb, who dubbed themselves the "Three Blondes in a Boat", to add to her solo win in the Europe dinghy class in Sydney four years ago. She had already been made an MBE after that victory.

Ainslie was also made an MBE in 2000 after he won a gold medal at Sydney in the solo Laser class.

His victory in Athens in the Finn class boat sealed his reputation as one of the country's finest sailors.

Robertson said she was thrilled to receive her "upgrade" to an OBE.

She said: "I'm looking forward to the ceremony. You meet so many interesting people with such interesting stories, that it's a really special day out.

"They try to do all the sports people in one go. I couldn't go last time so I met policemen and teachers. In a way, you wish they would stop and talk a bit about themselves.

"I've had a fantastic year and this just finishes the year off really nicely."

She said she had yet to decide if she would compete at the Beijing Games in 2008, having previously said she was considering starting a family. She will make the announcement in the new year.

Following her victory in Athens, Robertson returned to a hero's welcome in Cowes and was treated to an open-top bus parade through the town.

She was also awarded honorary life membership of the Island Sailing Club.

Ainslie, a member of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club who is currently training in New Zealand for that country's Americas Cup challenge, said: "It's a perk. It's not why we race but it's a real honour when it happens.

"It's great to have your achievements recognised.

"You get out there to achieve your own goals first, but it feels special to realise the support you've had from the country."

One Olympic hero who was not on the list was Southampton diver Peter Waterfield. In common with other silver medallists from Athens, such as boxer Amir Khan, he did not receive official recognition for his achievement.

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