Sports Personality of the Year 2014: Lewis Hamilton beats Rory McIlroy to collect prestigious award and cap brilliant year

Hamilton secured the F1 title in a nail-biting finale by beating his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg in Abu Dhabi

Independent Sports Staff
Sunday 14 December 2014 23:36 GMT
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Lewis Hamilton becomes the first motor racing star to win the award since Damon Hill in 1996
Lewis Hamilton becomes the first motor racing star to win the award since Damon Hill in 1996 (PA)

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Lewis Hamilton tonight received further recognition for a stunning 2014 when he was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in Glasgow.

The 29-year-old, who claimed his second Formula One crown this year after his 2008 success, watched on as the bookmakers’ favourite Rory McIlroy and Jo Pavey were announced in second and third place respectively, and the Stevenage-born driver becomes the first motor racing star to win the award since Damon Hill in 1996.

Gymnast Claudia Fragapane was the first winner of the night. The 16-year-old, from Bristol collected the Young Sports Personality of the Year prize at the Hydro, the venue where she won four Commonwealth Games gold medals for England in the summer.

Prince Harry presented the Helen Rollason Award, for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity, to the competitors of the Invictus Games. The prince set up the event for servicemen and women, and 13 nations and 400 competitors took part in London this year.

After handing the award to UK team captain Dave Henson, Harry said: “I’m like a proud dad. You look around and every single person is on their feet. That’s for you.”

Paul McGinley claimed the Coach of the Year award after inspiring Europe to a five-point victory over the United States at the Ryder Cup in Gleneagles.

“I’m very, very honoured,” McGinley said. “I need to thank the people of Scotland. Your support was huge. I had 12 great players, 12 great personalities and a great backroom team and vice captains.”

The golfers missed out on the Team of the Year prize which went to the England women’s rugby union team, who won the World Cup following three consecutive final defeats thanks to a 21-9 triumph over Canada in Paris.

“I would like to thank the RFU and Sport England and our friends and family and to everybody at home, this is a massive turning point for women’s sport,” says captain Katy McLean.

The Get Inspired Unsung Hero award went to 77-year-old Jill Stidever, who has coached disabled swimmers – including three Paralympians – for more than half a century.

Stidever, from Leicester, said: “I feel very humble. I’ve had lots of help. It’s not just me. And without my volunteers we wouldn’t keep going.”

Results in full

BBC Sports Personality of the Year

1 Lewis Hamilton

2 Rory McIlroy

3 Jo Pavey

Young Sports Personality of the Year

Claudia Fragapane

Unsung Hero

Jill Stidever

Coach of the Year

Paul McGinley

Team of the Year

England women’s rugby union side

Overseas Personality of the Year

Cristiano Ronaldo

Lifetime Achievement award

Sir Chris Hoy

Helen Rollason award

Invictus Games competitors

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