Keely Hodgkinson wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 – live reaction
Keely Hodgkinson Wins Sports Personality Of The Year!
No surprises here, as the impressive achievement of Britain’s Olympic track team is being recognized. Luke Litter takes the second spot, while Joe Root comes in third.
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"I'm honestly a little stunned," Hodgkinson shares. "To tell the truth, I feel more thrilled for my coach, because I wouldn't have achieved this without his support. I'm really thankful for this opportunity."
Keely Hodgkinson Wins Sports Personality Award!
It’s no shocker that the remarkable achievement of Britain's Olympic track team is being recognized. Luke Litter has secured second place, while Joe Root follows in third.
Luke Littler finished in second place! I believed he might have had a shot at winning through a public vote, but it didn't happen.
Joe Root takes the third position, and conveniently, the trophy is located in Hamilton, where Harry Brook is presenting it.
The award will be given by Mary Earps, who currently holds it, along with Sir Chris Hoy, the recipient from 2008. The leading three nominees are...
And with that, we’re almost finished. There’s just one last task remaining. Who will land the major opportunity?
"It requires daily effort, but I hope our athletes would agree that they also enjoy themselves," says Meadows.
The co-coaches of the year are Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, who mentor Keely Hodgkinson.
Following a tribute video highlighting some of the athletes and legends we've sadly lost this year, it's time to present the Coach of the Year award.
And the champion is Luke Littler! No offense to the other two competitors, of course. He states, “I’ve transformed the game of darts.” He acknowledges the contributions of other players but emphasizes his significant role. Co-host Alex Scott chimes in, saying, “Luke, you’re being incredibly humble.”
Let's start with the Young Sports Personality of the Year award. The three nominees for this award include 18-year-old para-swimmer William Ellard, who secured two gold medals and a silver at the Paralympics; skateboarder Sky Brown, who at just 16 years old earned her second Olympic medal in Paris; and the 17-year-old darts sensation Luke Littler.
Voting has officially ended. Please refrain from casting any more votes. That means you—set your phone aside. We’ll announce the winner in about five minutes.
Maybe he ought to have made some arrangements. "I know I'm rambling at this point," he finally says. "But it really is wonderful. Thank you."
"That welcome was incredible," Cavendish remarks. "I knew I was receiving it, of course, but I'm at a loss for words. I didn't prepare anything in advance. I'm not the best at speaking in front of people, which is why I chose to make a living cycling. Or at least I used to."
“I was never the best cyclist,” Cavendish says with a straight face. “As a result, I had to figure out how to compete effectively.”
It’s now time to present Sir Mark Cavendish, known as the Manx Missile, with his lifetime achievement award.
The Wigan Warriors have been named Team of the Year after achieving their second quadruple victory, capturing the League Leaders’ Shield, Grand Final, Challenge Cup, and World Club Challenge. Coach Matt Peet shared his enthusiasm, stating, “The club is in a strong position; we are well-aligned and closely connected. Our ambition is high, and we are focused on achieving success.”
Welsh footballer Hayley Ladd shares her thoughts on qualifying for next year's women's Euros, marking their first major competition. "We've faced some tough times trying to reach this point," she reflects. A few players from Wales are in attendance, sitting in front of several members of the England squad. The two teams will compete in the Euros in Switzerland next year, and following yesterday’s draw, they are also set to face France and the Netherlands, creating a challenging group for them.
The award goes to Jean Paton, a 90-year-old long-time member of the Salterns Sailing Club, a children's sailing program located in Lymington, Hampshire. You can find an article discussing her nomination on the Lymington Times website here.
Next up is another award – let’s discover who our Unsung Hero will be.
You have about 40 minutes left until everything wraps up, and voting closes in roughly 20 minutes. So if you're interested, make sure to cast your vote soon.
Storey is using crutches and wearing a protective boot decorated with fairy lights, moving very carefully as she steps outside. Her parents aren’t next to her because they’re looking after the kids. “I was training for ice skating and I stumbled, which led to me breaking my ankle,” she explains. “That happened two weeks ago. I’m going through rehabilitation like crazy to recover fast. I've enjoyed sports for a long time and I truly love it.” She isn’t dismissing the idea of participating in the 2026 LA Olympics, even though she’ll be 50 by then.
Louisa, the daughter of Sarah Storey, shares her microdocumentary that explores the journey of an athlete who secured her first Paralympic gold medal when she hadn't even been born yet. The film culminates with a striking display of her mother’s impressive collection of 19 gold medals.
Hold on, we haven't heard from Dame Sarah Storey just yet. Her moment will likely come after the Paralympic highlight video that's airing right now.
This is the moment when all the Spoty nominees have been presented, and before the voting ends. Now, it's time to fill the wait with anything while the results are being finalized.
A team of British Olympic athletes steps into the spotlight. Bryony Page, who snagged a gold medal in trampoline at the Paris Games, expresses her desire to represent Team GB once more, with her sights set on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Meanwhile, Imogen Grant, who also earned a gold medal and was honored as Athlete of the Year at the BBC's Green Sport Awards in October, showcases a dress crafted from recycled Olympic gear.
Here are more Olympic highlights featuring Fred Sirieix, whose daughter Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix claimed a bronze medal in the synchronized 10m platform event. He shares a montage that includes some slightly unusual slow-motion clips of him pretending to engage in Olympic sports while lying in bed.
Here sits Yee with his mom, dad, and partner, and he bears a strong resemblance to his father. "It's all about perseverance. These people have shown me the importance of not giving up or backing down. At that moment, I truly gave it my all. I've come a long way and put in a tremendous amount of effort. Winning silver in Tokyo was incredible, but I wasn't ready to stop there."
The microdocumentary about Alex Yee showcases the excitement of the Paris triathlon. What an incredible competition it was, especially with the thrilling finish where he managed to pull off a surprising victory for the gold medal.
Hodgkinson is lounging on the couch alongside her parents and coaches. “I've always felt that I had some natural ability in sports, and I really enjoy competing,” she shares. “As I entered my teenage years, my dreams started to grow, and it just developed from there. I thrive in that competitive atmosphere. Since Paris, it's been unbelievable. It's wild to think that a young girl might have seen that and felt motivated to pursue athletics—it's just mind-blowing.”
Sir Chris Hoy arrives to share some motivating thoughts about the Olympics and Paralympics, paving the way for Keely Hodgkinson, who is now the fourth contender for Sports Personality of the Year. Each athlete has been featured in a short documentary, all expertly crafted, showcasing the BBC's strength in storytelling. These segments highlight their life journeys, careers, and recent achievements.
Jude Bellingham gets a chance to shine, but it’s just another video compilation. He’s not there either, as Real Madrid is set to face Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final in Qatar tomorrow, which is a pretty good reason for his absence. He hasn’t even called in—it's 10:45 PM there, and I’m not sure when he usually goes to bed. Plus, Real Madrid players typically attend award ceremonies only if they’re sure they’ll take home the trophy.
Both boxing and Euro 2024 feature montages, with Vicky McClure providing the voiceover for the latter. I seem to have overlooked just how intense those moments were. It seems we often push such stressful experiences out of our minds.
Mondo Duplantis has been awarded the title of World Sport Star, and it’s a well-deserved recognition considering his incredible achievements in 2024. In a video message, he expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’m truly honored. I apologize for not being able to join you all tonight; I’m currently in the States getting ready for the new season, but I understand how significant this award is.”
What will it take to surpass Phil Taylor as the best of all time, he’s inquired. “At least 16 World Championships,” he responds.
Luke Littler is the latest contender for Spoty, sitting on a couch on stage with his parents. It seems he was the third most Googled person in the UK this year. “Our lives have transformed, and we’ve had to adapt. We’ve learned to navigate the level of fame that has come our way,” he shares.
“I usually have plenty to say,” Prince shares. “I’m constantly encouraging and uplifting others, so this moment feels incredibly emotional for me. I don’t engage in my work for recognition or reward. I just want to express to Nikki Rollason how grateful I am to receive this award. Your mother was an incredible person, and I will keep motivating others in her honor.”
Dr. Mark Prince, a former boxing champion, experienced the tragic loss of his son Kiyan in 2006. Kiyan, who was just 15, was a promising footballer in the QPR youth program and lost his life to a stabbing incident. In response to this tragedy, Dr. Prince founded the Kiyan Prince Foundation, which focuses on helping young people, particularly those vulnerable to youth violence. The foundation aims to empower them to appreciate their own lives and the lives of others. Here's a glimpse of what Dr. Prince shares in the video prior to his presentation:
I can share what happened that day. I received a call from Kiyan’s sister informing me that he had been stabbed. I had to hear a doctor explain that he wanted to save him, but it just wasn’t possible. I believe we aren’t equipped to handle such devastating situations. The only thing I can control is how I respond to what life throws at me. After Kiyan passed away, I began to think, why not take this approach for my son? Keep in mind that diamonds, even when they’re dirty and imperfect, still maintain their worth.
A recognition! The Helen Rollason Award will be the first to be presented.
Root is chatting live from his hotel in New Zealand, where it's just turned 8 AM the day after the Test series wrapped up. He appears a bit groggy. This year, he’s only scored more runs once before, back in 2021. "It's been an incredible experience, and it just keeps getting more enjoyable," he remarks.
Jimmy Anderson on Root. It's hard to find a better quote than this.
I can't imagine a more perfect example in the world of cricket. As a parent, I hope my kids will grow up to be just like that.
So far, we’ve had a fast-paced look at the year in rugby union and a brief discussion with Ellie Kildunne about the upcoming World Cup. Now, let’s get started with our first spotlight on a contender for the Sports Personality of the Year: Joe Root.
There are some efforts underway to promote a cause.
The voting for the main award has officially started. If you're currently connected to the internet, which it seems you are, you can cast your vote right here.
It's begun! As expected, there's an emotional montage to kick things off. David Harewood is handling the voiceover.
We have plenty of interesting content about the other athletes who are up for the main award. Here’s a brief overview:
Ben Fisher's overview of the England and Real Madrid star:
Barney Ronay’s recognition of the midfielder:
Donald McRae speaks with the young darts talent:
Here’s a rephrased version of that section: Jonathan Liew's article, published when Littler advanced to the World Darts final:
Here’s an interview with Root conducted by Donald McRae, which was released last month:
Ali Martin’s reaction to Joe Root surpassing Alastair Cook as England’s top all-time Test run-scorer:
Here’s the interview with Don from 2021:
Tanya Aldred has achieved her 19th gold medal at the Paralympics, bringing her total medal count to 30.
Here’s the interview conducted by Sean Ingle back in 2021:
In Andy Bull's article from the Stade de France, he reflects on how she fulfilled her long-cherished dream of winning gold.
… Meanwhile, Sean Ingle exchanged a few remarks with notable award contender Alex Yee:
Here’s his account of Yee's shining moment in Paris:
Before the big event, Donald McRae sat down for a chat with Mark Cavendish, who received a lifetime achievement award. He then shared his thoughts on their conversation in this piece:
Get ready, because we’re diving into two hours of sporting excitement—or agony, depending on how you see it—as we reflect on a year that included the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, a character named Raygun, and England's men stumbling through Euro 2024 while still managing to reach the final. They also did poorly in the T20 World Cup, yet made it to the semi-finals. We witnessed the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow, saw 15-year-old Mika Stojsavljevic become the first British girl to win a junior grand slam title since 2009, as well as numerous senior Grand Slam singles victories for the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Aryna Sabalenka. Manchester City finally had a successful run, Emma Hayes departed from Chelsea, and Jude Bellingham placed third in the Ballon d'Or voting. Ireland claimed the Six Nations title, Lando Norris came in second to Max Verstappen in the Formula One championship, and we had Lukes Humphries and Littler competing in the World Darts final. And let’s not forget all the other world championships in various sports such as aerobic gymnastics, beach handball, soccer, biathlon, bobsleigh, canoeing (in marathon, polo, and sprint formats), chess, curling, cyclo-cross, diving, field archery, figure skating, flag football, ice hockey, indoor bowls, judo, luge, modern pentathlon, orienteering, parkour, race walking, road cycling, rowing, skeleton, ski flying, speed skating (four events!), squash, team table tennis, track cycling, weightlifting, and wrestling. Oh, and there was also that scandal-plagued conkers competition!
This evening, we’ll set aside many of those topics since the British didn't excel in them, and instead, we’ll highlight some of the country's exceptional achievements. During the event, we will hand out eight awards, including:
The Helen Rollason Award is presented for remarkable accomplishments achieved despite facing challenges.
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes a volunteer who has greatly influenced sports involvement in their community. The recipient will be selected from among 15 individuals who have won regional accolades. For more details about these remarkable volunteers, check out the BBC website here.
A lifetime achievement award is set to be presented to Sir Mark Cavendish.
The Coach of the Year award has been given to football managers for the past four consecutive years, and it is currently held by Pep Guardiola.
The Team of the Year award has gone to the football team that was coached by the Coach of the Year for the past four years, which means it is currently held by Manchester City.
The World Sport Star of the Year award has six nominees this time around. Among them are Swiss para-athlete Catherine Debrunner, Swedish pole vault superstar Armand Duplantis, Dutch Olympic women's marathon winner and bronze medalist in both the 10,000m and 5,000m events, Sifan Hassan. Also in the running are French swimming prodigy Leon Marchand, American basketball star Caitlin Clark, and the legendary gymnast Simone Biles, who hardly needs an introduction.
The Young Sports Personality of the Year award features three impressive finalists: 18-year-old para-swimmer William Ellard, who secured two gold medals and a silver at the Paralympics; 16-year-old skateboarder Sky Brown, who earned her second Olympic medal in Paris; and 17-year-old darts sensation Luke Littler.
Lastly, we have the Sports Personality of the Year award, with nominees including triathlete Alex Yee, para cyclist Dame Sarah Storey, and Luke Littler, who is likely to have already received the Young Sports Personality of the Year accolade. Also in the running are Jude Bellingham, the star player from Real Madrid and England, and cricket sensation Joe Root, who shone again as England's top performer in a recent Test match. Rounding out the list is Keely Hodgkinson, the favorite before the event, who secured an impressive gold medal in the 800m in Paris.
As I write this, the notable figures from the sports world are coming together in Salford. The event kicks off at 7pm GMT and will wrap up two hours later, filled with celebration, joy, or perhaps even some struggles—feel free to choose what suits! Welcome!
