Olympic dietitian made OBE
Wendy Martinson recognised in New Year Honours
Sports dietitian Wendy Martinson has been made an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours.
Wendy, who is chair of the BDA’s sports specialist group, Sports Dietitians UK, was cited for services to sports and to nutrition.
Wendy said: “I received the letter in November saying that my name had been put forward and asking if I was happy to be nominated – of course, I said yes!
“I was completely shocked and thought it was someone pulling my leg. I was bursting to tell people but the letter I received said the information about me being forward for the award was in strictest confidence and so I managed to keep it to myself and close family members and swore them to secrecy.”
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Wendy has worked with a variety of sports organisations, most notably the Great Britain Rowing team, the British Olympic Association and the England football team at the 2002 World Cup and the 2004 European Championships. But her proudest work was with the GB Olympic team for Beijing in 2008, which finished fourth in the medal table.
“I think being involved in the last two Olympics has been some of my most significant work – especially Beijing where it was difficult to get the nutrition right,” said Wendy. “I had set up all the menus before we went but when we got there they didn’t have all the food we required. I was staying with the rowers, canoeists and open water swimmers and we didn’t stay in the Olympic Village, but in a hotel close to the competition venue and there were lots of rules and regulations on providing the food to combat doping so I had to do a lot of negotiation with the hotel to ensure that the right food was provided. I even had to involve the British Olympic Association and the Beijing organisers.”
New Year and the Queen’s Birthday Honours retain an element of mystery – those honoured must keep it secret until they are officially announced, and they are never told who has nominated them.
“They don’t give specific details on why you’ve been nominated and they don’t tell you who nominated you,” explained Wendy. “I’ve done a lot in sport over the years but I guess it’s to do with my work in the Olympics.
“And whoever it was, I’m really pleased that they stated my profession as being a Consultant Dietitian, rather than Nutritionist because it’s great recognition for the profession.”
Wendy had already booked to go on a holiday to Thailand over New Year when she found out about the honour and used the trip to celebrate. “It was even more special to be able to celebrate the honour while I was there. It was nice getting texts from friends who had seen it in the paper – if only because it confirmed to me that it had really happened!
“The reaction has been wonderful – everyone has been delighted. My family were emotional and a bit teary and very proud.”
Wendy has now stepped down from her Olympic commitments but has assisted in putting together the menu plans for the GB Winter Olympic team heading out to Vancouver. Her next big sports event will be the World Rowing Championships in New Zealand in November but she does have one more immediate commitment.
“I pick up my award on 12 February at Buckingham Palace, she said.” “And I need a new outfit!”