Former Truro School pupil Ben Ainslie, who won his fourth Olympic sailing gold at Weymouth, has received a Knighthood in the New Year Honours list.
Ainslie learnt to sail at Falmouth as a youngster and has since gone on to become one of Britain's greatest ever Olympians and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time.
He said: "This is an incredible honour. When I set out Olympic sailing 20 years ago I never would have dreamt this would happen. 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 the moment."
Cornwall's Olympic gold medal winning rower Helen Glover has also been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list announced today,
Glover, from Penzance, partnered Heather Stanning, who has also been awarded an MBE, to victory in the women's pairs, Britain's first gold of the 2012 Games.
Glover said: "I feel very honoured to receive this as it is the perfect end to an amazing year. To have people think that my achievement is worthy of this, is incredible
Stanning added: "I am extremely proud and honoured to be awarded an MBE. After an amazing year this really is the perfect end.
"I can't thank the public, the Army, my family and of course all the team at GB Rowing, enough for all the support they have given to me in 2012.
"Now I am looking forward to 2013 and my planned deployment to Afghanistan, which I know will be as challenging and rewarding as everything I achieved in 2012."