Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson CBE has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London in recognition of her outstanding contribution to British sport and public life.
A Distinguished Civic Honour
The award places Tessa among a long line of individuals recognised by the City of London for exceptional achievement and service. The Freedom of the City is one of the oldest surviving traditional civic honours in the UK, historically granted to individuals who have made a significant contribution to society or who hold a strong connection with the City.
Originally associated with trade guilds and medieval privileges, the honour is now presented as a symbolic recognition of distinction and public contribution. Recipients are invited to a formal ceremony at Guildhall, where they are admitted as a Freeman of the City.
Tessa Sanderson, one of Britain’s most celebrated Olympians, won gold in the javelin at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and has remained an influential figure in British sport, advocacy and public life.
Further Reading
Learn more about Tessa Sanderson
Discover more about Tessa Sanderson’s sporting legacy and her representation by Black on Silver.
View Tessa Sanderson’s profile
About the Freedom of the City of London
Learn more about the history and significance of the civic honour.