We we’re going to mention something about the fact that Steve Peat’s drinking habits should have made him an honary student years ago but I think we’ll leave that out and just congratulate the man on his achievments, well done Peaty!

Here’s the official word.

Sheffield-born world champion downhill mountain bike racer, Steve Peat, has been recognised for his achievements with an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University. The award of Doctor of the University is in recognition of Steve’s outstanding contribution to sporting excellence, to local charity and to the city of Sheffield.

Steve Peat with Vice Chancellor Professor Philip Jones (left) and Chancellor Professor the Lord Winston (right).

“This is a great privilege,” he said. “I never, ever expected to be here. Riding bikes has taken me to some amazing places and given me an awesome life, and this has added to that.”

Steve has been riding since he was three and racing professionally since the age of 19, and he was World Cup Champion in 2002, 2004 and 2006. He finished second in the Mountain Bike World Championships in 2008, and has been European Champion twice. His award was conferred at a ceremony where he was joined by hundreds of graduates from the University’s Faculty of Health and Well Being.

They were congratulated by Sheffield Hallam’s Chancellor, Professor the Lord Winston, who attended the ceremony. He said: “I am honored to meet and congratulate every one of these graduates. They will do much to improve the quality of life for people in their future careers. The work they will do is important – in fact it matters greatly.”

Steve is currently developing his own academy, encouraging children to get involved with mountain biking, and also works closely with Weston Park Hospital’s Teenage Cancer Unit. Over the past three years he and his supporters have raised more than £28,500 for the charity. He still lives in Sheffield, and every winter carries out training at Wharncliffe Woods.

Steve Peat will be joined as an honorary doctor this year by esteemed journalist and Sky TV’s Political Editor, Adam Boulton; Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (and also a hugely influential broadcast journalist) Trevor Phillips OBE; Yorkshire man and one of Britain’s most successful and renowned chefs, Brian Turner CBE, and the Government’s Chief Nursing Officer and Director General in the Department of Health for Professional Leadership, Christine Beasley.

Others who will take to the stage are successful local businesswoman Emma Harrison; industrialist Lord Broers; science educator, professor John Holman; former director of Sheffield’s Education Services, Jonathan Crossley-Holland; mountaineer and author Stephen Venables; and lawyer Michael Jelly.

Next student, 30 seconds…beep…beep…beep…Steve Peat in the start gate.

Steve Peat awarded honorary doctorate