Olympic 800 metres champion Keely Hodgkinson has been voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2024.
The award caps a brilliant 12 months for the 22-year-old in which she claimed gold for Team GB at the Paris Olympics, successfully defended her European title and set a new British record of 1:54.61 seconds that made her the sixth fastest woman in history.
Darts prodigy Luke Littler came second in the public vote, the 17-year-old instead coming out on top for the Young Sports Personality of the Year award, while England cricket star Joe Root took the third-place prize at Tuesday’s ceremony in Salford.
Hodgkinson’s success makes it an unprecedented four years in a row that the award has been won by a woman, following Mary Earps in 2023, Beth Mead in 2022 and Emma Raducanu in 2021.
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After being announced as the winner by Chris Hoy, Hodgkinson said on stage: “This year has been absolutely incredible for me.
“I achieved everything I set out to do on the outdoor track, which is kind of rare, so I’m so grateful to be in this position. Thank you to everyone who voted at home – I hope you all loved watching Paris just as much as I loved competing in it.”
Hodgkinson’s coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows were chosen as the recipients of the Coach of the Year award.
Rugby league side Wiggan Warriors, the former club of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, were chosen as Team of the Year, Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis was voted World Sports Star of the Year and cyclist Mark Cavendish was recognised with a lifetime achievement award.
