Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson has been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2024. This marks the fourth year in a row that a woman has won the award, following Mary Earps, Beth Mead, and Emma Raducanu in previous years. Hodgkinson’s achievements include winning gold at the Paris Olympics, defending her European title, and setting a new British record. Darts prodigy Luke Littler came in second in the public vote, while cricket star Joe Root took third place at the ceremony in Salford.
Hodgkinson expressed gratitude for the award, thanking her coach Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows for their guidance. The evening also saw Sir Mark Cavendish receive a lifetime achievement award and Wigan Warriors named Team of the Year.
Other awards presented included the Young Sports Personality of the Year, won by Luke Littler, and the Coach of the Year, received by Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows. World Sports Star was awarded to Armand “Mondo” Duplantis. Additionally, Dr. Mark Prince received the Helen Rollason Award for his work with the Kiyan Prince Foundation.
The ceremony featured highlights from the sporting year, including tributes to fallen sporting heroes and interviews with nominees like Jude Bellingham, Dame Sarah Storey, Joe Root, and Alex Yee. Overall, the event celebrated the outstanding achievements and contributions of athletes and coaches in the world of sports.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com