Skip to content

Tokyo Olympics: Essex champions honoured in knitted postbox tribute

Kathleen Shannon Knitted Ben Maher, Beth Shriever and Max WhitlockKathleen Shannon
Essex Olympians Ben Maher, Beth Shriever and Max Whitlock have all been recreated for the postbox topper

Three Olympic gold medallists have been immortalised in yarn to mark their "fantastic achievement" at Tokyo 2020.

Showjumper Ben Maher, BMX racer Beth Shriever and gymnast Max Whitlock all feature in the postbox topper.

The Essex sporting stars have been recreated by yarn-bomber Kathleen Shannon of Great Dunmow.

Mrs Shannon said it took a "lot of late nights" to knit the figures as none had been planned - until they won their medals.

Getty Images Ben Maher, Bethany Shriever and Max WhitlockGetty Images
And this is how Maher, Shriever and Whitlock look in the flesh

She knitted the local Olympics heroes after another of her creations, diver Tom Daley - himself an avid knitter - went on display with his needles and his gold medal.

Shriever is from Finchingfield, Maher is from Elsenham and Whitlock trains in Basildon.

Kathleen Shannon Postbox-topper featuring Tom DaleyKathleen Shannon
Kathleen Shannon had already made avid knitter Tom Daley after he won his first Olympic gold medal

After placing her work on top of a Royal Mail postbox on Sunday, Mrs Shannon received an "amazing response - I had some lovely comments from people", she said.

"I just love doing them, it takes a lot of time, but I just love trying to get them right."

She said she did not have time to make Mayer's horse, Explosion W, but managed to make a pommel horse to go with her Whitlock figure.

She hoped the winners would "enjoy seeing it" if they were shown the pictures, she said.

Kathleen Shannon Knitted Ben Maher, Beth Shriever and Max WhitlockKathleen Shannon
Kathleen Shannon used acrylic yarn to make the topper so it would withstand the weather

"From the year they've had to try and do the training, when everything was closed, to do what they did was just amazing - a fantastic achievement for their part," she said.

The yarn-shop worker believes Tom Daley's interest in knitting means the hobby "could take off more".

"Some people will see it now as cool to do, but we've always been cool and trendy", she added.

Kathleen Shannon Knitted Laura Muir and Dina Asher-SmithKathleen Shannon
Medallists Laura Muir and Dina Asher-Smith appear on an Olympic race track complete with its flame in another of Kathleen Shannon's creations
presentational grey line

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]