Sports Personality of the Year LIVE: Emma Raducanu wins 2021 prize
Follow live reaction after Emma Raducanu beats Tom Daley and Adam Peaty to the 2021 award
Follow live reaction after Emma Raducanu was voted the 2021’s Sports Personality of the Year in recognition of the 18-year-old’s stunning victory at the US Open in September. Raducanu became Britain’s first female singles Grand Slam champion for 44 years when she defeated Leylah Fernandez in a thrilling final in New York.
Tom Daley finished second with Adam Peaty in third. Tyson Fury, Dame Sarah Story and Raheem Sterling were also nominated on the six-person shortlist. Raducanu becomes the first woman to win the award since Zara Phillips in 2006.
“It was such an honour to be named amongst these nominees,” said Raducanu, who was unable to be at the ceremony after tested positive for Covid-19. “To win is pretty amazing to me. I’m really happy with this as I watched Sports Personality of the Year growing up, but I’m really humbled to be able to join the past winners. I’m really happy as well for British tennis that we were able to win this award again. Thank you to all the voters and fans for their support this year - it’s been insane.”
Raducanu rose to prominence during her run to the fourth round of Wimbledon in July before she had to withdraw from her match due to breathing difficulties. But the teenager learned from the experience and didn’t drop a single set on the way to becoming the first qualifier to reach a Grand Slam final, where her dramatic victory over Fernandez captured the attention of the country. Follow below for latest reaction and a full list of award winner from Sports Personality of the Year.
Sports Personality of the Year 2021
Time to pick up the Euros again - and that is to recognise Raheem Sterling’s contribution to England’s run to the final.
What a tournament the Manchester City forward had - scoring vital winners at Wembley to keep England’s dream alive.
But then we have to come back to that penalty shootout...
Sports Personality of the Year 2021
Time for winner of the Helen Rollason Award - which recognises inspirational achievement in the face of adversity.
The winner is Arsenal and Scotland defender Jennifer Beattie, who spoke so openly and impressively about her diagnosis of breast cancer earlier this year.
Now cancer free, Beattie was presented the award by her Arsenal teammates after using her platform to drive awareness of the importance of breast cancer screenings.
Sports Personality of the Year 2021
Chelsea were the undisputed winners of women’s football in 2021 - sealed by their FA Cup final victory over Arsenal which completed their domestic clean sweep.
Sports Personality of the Year 2021
Tom Daley is next up - his gold medal along with Matty Lee in the first few days of Tokyo 2020 was one of the moments of the Games. After suffering disappointment in Rio, he responded at his fourth Games to claim gold and complete his incredible Olympics story.
“Watching that video back has just made me see how far I’ve come, from going to tournaments with my Dad at age nine. He would have loved to see my win an Olympic gold. I had settled on not winning gold but it’s incredible that we did. It’s been a long journey but one I’m very proud of.
“Going into these Games I had a change of perspective. I’m married, I have a kid and to say I was a gay man who competed at an Olympics... so many people need support to live their lives as they are, it’s important we make as sport as inclusive as we can. Everyone has a space.”
Sports Personality of the Year 2021
Emma Raducanu goes back to her old school in her feature. She, of course, had just sat her A-Levels when she made her stunning run to the fourth round of Wimbledon - even if her tournament ended in painful disappointed. What followed at the US Open was extraordinary, as she captured the imagination of the nation in becoming the first qualifier to win a grand slam title - and at 18! What a story.
Raducanu tested positive for Covid-19 while at a tournament last week so is unable to be at the ceremony tonight.
“I’m doing well,” she says from her hotel in Abu Dhabi. “It’s pretty surreal, I’ve always watch Sports Personality of the Year so to be nominated is crazy. Nothing has really changed in terms of my mindset since winning the US Open - my team keep my grounded. My parents don’t make a deal of what I do - they’re grounded, that’s how they brought me up. I just want to look back on the end of 2022 and feel I’ve learned. I’ve got a lot to learn but I’m excited to get started.”
Sports Personality of the Year 2021
After Covid-19 saw the cancellation of Wimbledon in 2020, the return of SW19 was extra special this summer. What a tournament it was, with Andy Murray on the comeback trail, Serena Williams and Roger Federer suffering shock defeats, and Novak Djokovic equalling the record at 20 grand slams.
But there was one story that stood above them all...
Sports Personality of the Year 2021
Tyson Fury is the next nominee to be featured - but he will not be taking part in tonight’s ceremony.
Here’s why:
Tyson Fury snubs Sports Personality of the Year after nomination
The WBC heavyweight champion is one of six nominees for the main prize
Sports Personality of the Year 2021
And the winner is Sky Brown! At the age of just 13, she became Great Britain’s youngest Olympic medallist of all time when she claimed bronze in the women’s park skateboarding final in Tokyo.
“I don’t feel like I deserve it, I just want to thank everyone who supported me, especially my family. I wanted to make Britain proud and I hope I did, and inspire little girls all over the world.
“I want to get two gold medals in Paris!”
Sports Personality of the Year 2021
Time for the first award of the night - the Young Sports Personality of the Year award. Olympic skateboarder Sky Brown, England star Jude Bellingham and Paralympics swimmer Ellie Challis are up for the award and are live in the studio.
Sports Personality of the Year 2021
The review of international football is centred around the Euros, of course, starting with Christian Eriksen’s collapse - a moment which reminded us all about the true importance of football.
The good news that came out of Eriksen’s recovery paved the way for a brilliant knockout stage - which will be revisited later in the show.
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