UK
Keely Hodgkinson beats Luke Littler to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year award
Keely Hodgkinson has won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, capping a stellar year in which she became Olympic champion.
The 800m runner beat darts star Luke Littler and England cricketer Joe Root into second and third place in the public vote.
Para cyclist Dame Sarah Storey, Olympic and world triathlon champion Alex Yee, and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham were also nominated.
The 22-year-old won gold in Paris this summer. Pic: AP
Hodgkinson, 22, won gold in Paris to top the silver she won in Tokyo in 2021.
She also retained her European title and clocked the sixth fastest-time ever to beat her own British record in front of a packed crowd in London.
Hodgkinson is the fourth woman in a row to win the prestigious award after Mary Earps, Beth Mead and Emma Raducanu.
She told BBC One she was “in a bit of shock” as she collected the trophy.
“This year has been incredible and I achieved everything that I set out to do on the outdoor track,” she said.
“I hope you loved watching Paris and I wish you all a wonderful evening.”
Her coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows shared the coach of the year award.
Sir Bradley Wiggins presented Cavendish with the lifetime achievement award. Pic: PA
Elsewhere at the Salford ceremony, Sir Mark Cavendish picked up a lifetime achievement award – with fellow cycling legend Sir Bradley Wiggins presenting it to him.
The “Manx missile” retired this year after finally beating the record for most Tour de France stage wins when he collected his 35th in July.
Luke Littler, who shot to fame at last year’s darts world championships as a 16-year-old, was runner up for the main award – but claimed the young sports personality prize after winning 10 titles this year.
Read more from Sky News:
Radio DJ Jordan North rescued from Thames after saving dog
Joey Barton charged over alleged malicious communications
Darts player Luke Littler (left) came second in the public vote. Pic: PA
Posting on X, Littler called the public’s recognition a “huge honour”.
“Support this year has been amazing and [I] want to say thank you to everyone who voted and sent messages,” he said.
Third-placed sportsperson Joe Root became the country’s leading Test scorer in October and also set a 454-run partnership record with Harry Brook during the same match against Pakistan.
He told BBC One it had been “one hell of a journey”.
“It seems to get more enjoyable,” he said. “Clearly to go past Cooky [Sir Alastair Cook] who was a captain of mine and someone I looked up to, it was nice to get a call from him when he congratulated me.”