[2] In 1964, Dixon was granted leave from the army to participate in the 1964 Winter Olympics at Innsbruck, where he won the gold medal in the Two-man Bobsleigh as brakeman to Tony Nash.

Dixon retained his sporting links throughout his life: he was president of the jury at the 1976 Winter Olympics, set up the Ulster Games Foundation in 1983, and was appointed chairman of the Northern Ireland Tall Ships Council in 1987.

Dixon and his driver, Tony Nash, were inducted into the British Bobsleigh Hall of Fame as a result of their success.

In the 1969 New Year Honours, Dixon was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), as was Nash, for services to winter sports.

[8] Dixon was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1992 Birthday Honours for services to sport and to the community in Northern Ireland.