BBC Sports Personality of the Year LIVE: Keely Hodgkinson crowned 2024 SPOTY winner at Salford awards ceremony
The 71st edition of the awards takes place in Salford this evening, with Hodgkinson and Luke Littler among the favourites
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson was voted the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year for 2024.
The award caps a brilliant 12 months for the 22-year-old in which she claimed gold at the Paris Olympics, successfully defended her European title and set a new British record of one minute 54.61 seconds that made her the sixth fastest woman in history.
Littler came second in the public vote, 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.
Mark Cavendish won the lifetime achievement award after breaking the record for most Tour de France stage wins in July, while there were gongs for the young sports personality (Luke Littler), the best overseas sportsperson (Mondo Duplantis), the team of the year (Wigan Warriors) and more.
Keely Hodgkinson crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 after Olympic glory
Keely Hodgkinson was crowed BBC Sports Personality of the Year at an awards ceremony in Salford on Tuesday night, at the end of a stunning year which saw her become the Olympic 800m champion in Paris.
Hodgkinson stormed clear to victory in the final to finally clinch a global gold medal, having won silver at the Tokyo Games three years earlier and twice won silver at the World Athletics Championships.
The 22-year-old came out on top of a public vote in a six-athlete shortlist that contained serial Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey, Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham, England’s record Test run scorer Joe Root, Olympic triathlon gold medallist Alex Yee and darts sensation Luke Littler – who was presented with the Young Sports Personality of the Year prize.
Keely Hodgkinson crowned Sports Personality of the Year after Olympic glory
Hodgkinson pipped darts sensation Luke Littler and England’s record test run scorer Joe Root to the prestigious prize after winning 800m gold in Paris this summer
Littler wins Young Sports Personality of the Year
Luke Litter came second in the main award voting but won the award for Young Sports Personality of the Year after a year that saw him become the youngest finalist in the history of the World Darts Championship. He also won the Grand Slam of Darts, the Premier League and World Series Finals.
Speaking as he received his award, he said: “It just goes to show how well I have done this year.
“Not only for myself, but I have changed the sport of darts.
“I know the amount of academies that have been brought up in different locations, how big the sport has got.
“Tickets selling out with the Ally Pally in hours and the Premier league selling out - it just goes to show how much I have changed it.”
Frustrated Sarah Storey hits out at UCI for past two decades in charge of para cycling
Sarah Storey has criticised para cycling’s governing body, the UCI, for their running of the sport over the past two decades, believing they have failed to meaningfully improve coverage and visibility.
Storey is the most decorated British Paralympian in history and added an eye-watering 18th and 19th Paralympic golds to her collection in Paris in September by winning both the time trial and road race, before backing that up by winning both events again at the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships later that month.
Her remarkable achievements earned the 47-year-old a place on the six-strong shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the year alongside triathlete Alex Yee, darts star Luke Littler, cricketer Joe Root, footballer Jude Bellingham and Overwhelming favourite Keely Hodgkinson – who brilliantly won 800m gold at the Olympics on the athletics track.
Frustrated Sarah Storey hits out at UCI for past 20 years in charge of para cycling
Dame Sarah is GB’s most-decorated Paralympian with 19 gold medals but is angry at a lack of exposure for para-sport
Sports Personality of the Year – Cavendish wins Lifetime Achievement Award
Mark Cavendish won the Lifetime Achievement Award this evening, after retiring from a brilliant career with a record 35 Tour de France stage wins and 165 professional races won.
“I’ve been riding for 20 years and I’ve done everything I can so to be awarded this is something very, very special,” he said.
“I’m very fortunate I’ve done everything I wanted to do, and proud that’s more than many other people have done as well. I always dreamed of having my name alongside those greats I grew up watching.”
How record-breaking Mark Cavendish became a Tour de France legend – according to his rivals and teammates
Mark Cavendish once gave me the look.
It was an interview in a hotel lobby in Yorkshire; he was slightly late and apologised profusely, then answered questions about the Tour de Francewith enthusiasm and detail. For some reason, I thought 10 minutes of flowing conversation made me his trusted confidant, so I looked him in the eyes and asked the question he didn’t like answering: how much do you want to break Eddy Merckx’s Tour stage record? He shrugged it off. But what would it mean to you? He went quiet. Wouldn’t it crown your legacy?
The look was somewhere in the Venn diagram of anger and disdain, and I half expected him to walk off. He stayed, but in that brief moment, I felt the gentlest prod of his famous spikiness. Cavendish was once asked what he’d learned from a difficult day on the bike. “That journalists sometimes ask some stupid f***ing questions,” he replied.
How Mark Cavendish became a Tour de France legend – according to rivals and teammates
Explosive on the bike and off it, the Manx Missile has made history as the most prolific stage winner the Tour de France has ever seen. Lawrence Ostlere speaks to allies and opponents about the fast and furious sprinter
10 sports stars who could shine in 2025
2025 promises to be another exciting year in the world of sport.
Here, the PA news agency picks out 10 stars who are expected to shine, from Keely Hodgkinson to Ellie Kildunne.
10 sports stars who could shine in 2025
Keely Hodgkinson, Luke Littler and Tyler Dibling could all have a big year ahead.
The sporting year in pictures
Another eventful year in sport saw Manchester City crowned Premier League champions while Emma Hayes signed off in style as Chelsea boss with a fifth successive Women’s Super League title.
England finished as runners-up at the European Championship and Team GB earned 65 medals at this summer’s Olympics in Paris.
Here the PA news agency takes a look at some of the best images from this year’s sporting action.
The sporting year in pictures
Olympic golds, league titles and emotional farewells provided some of 2024’s defining images.
What next for Littler?
Littler’s main concern will be his upcoming tie in the World Darts Championships. It’s the competition he made his name in last year, when he lost the final to Luke Humphries – he takes on the winner of Ryan Meikle vs Fallon Sherrock in the second round on Saturday, 21 December.
Later in the year, he’ll look to repeat his victories in the Grand Slam of Darts, the Premier League and World Series Finals.
Littler: “It just goes to show how well I have done this year"
Luke Littler, who came second in the main award, spoke at more length when picking up his prize for Young Sports Personality of the Year.
“It just goes to show how well I have done this year,” he said.
“Not only for myself, but I have changed the sport of darts.
“I know the amount of academies that have been brought up in different locations, how big the sport has got.
“Tickets selling out with the Ally Pally in hours and the Premier league selling out - it just goes to show how much I have changed it.”
Painter and Meadows react
Hodgkinson’s caches, Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, also gave some words after picking up their gong.
“First of all it is an honour to get the microphone as Jenny normally does all the talking,” said Painter.
“It is hard enough standing out in Wigan as a coach, as you have Matt Peet at Wigan Warriors, you have Shaun Wane and Andy Farrell - it is great to do the best you can.”
Meadows said: “I have got to say Trevor’s leadership is brilliant. He really involves that culture and fun. It is hard work on a daily basis.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments