Sports Personality of the Year LIVE: Latest updates and results as Beth Mead wins award ahead of Ben Stokes
Beth Mead was voted ahead of Ben Stokes, Eve Muirhead, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Eve Muirhead, Jessica Gadirova and Jake Wightman to become the first female footballer to win the award
England footballer Beth Mead has been voted 2022’s Sports Personality of the Year after playing a starring role in the Lionesses’ stunning European Championships victory this summer.
Mead becomes the first female footballer to win the award following England’s first major international title in 66 years, with the Lionesses defeating Germany in a thrilling final in front of 86,000 at Wembley Stadium.
Mead scored six goals at the Euros, picking up the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament awards, and was the overwhelming favourite to win the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year prize.
Ben Stokes finished second with Eve Muirhead in third.
“This is for women’s sport and women’s sport heading in the right direction,” Mead said. “Let’s keep pushing and let’s keep doing the right thing.”
England were named Team of the Year while manager Sarina Wiegman won Coach of the Year, as the Lionesses completed a clean sweep.
Follow updates from the award ceremony with our live blog below:
Sports Personality of the Year 2022
Time now to announce the winner of the Sports Personality of the Year award...
Sports Personality of the Year 2022
Before the Sports Personality of the Year award, we remember those in sport who we lost in 2022. Doddie Weir and Shane Warne were among those who were taken too soon.
Sports Personality of the Year 2022: Sarina Wiegman wins Coach of the Year
And it’s followed by the confirmation that Sarina Wiegman has won coach of the year!
“I feel very humbled, grateful, to receive this award. Without this incredible of players and human beings we could not have performed as we did, as well as the staff. The support I got from September 1 last year when I came in. I’ve been the lucky person to come in.
“We played at Wembley and broke records. Over 17 million people watched the final, and over 500 million watched the tournament. That is what has changed society. Now little girls are walking around with our names on our shirts.
“We will go to the World Cup next year and do our best, and I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.”
Sports Personality of the Year 2022: Lionesses win Team of the Year!
England’s Lionesses have been named Team of the Year at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards following their groundbreaking success at the European Championships this summer.
Sarina Wiegman’s side defeated Germany in a thrilling final in front of 87,000 at Wembley Stadium as England won their first major international title in 66 years.
In a momentous moment for women’s sport in the UK, England’s victory was also watched by a TV audience of 17 million in the UK, while the Lionesses were praised for using their platform to demand for equal access to sport for girls in schools.
Led by captain Leah Williamson, England finished the year by extending their unbeaten run under Wiegman to 26 games, sealing qualification for next summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and defeating the world champions United States in front of another sell-out crowd at Wembley.
Jill Scott: “Just to be here, such an iconic awards. A massive thank you for everyone’s support. We really had the support of the nation behind us.
“This Christmas, to think there will be little girls asking for football boots and embarking on their own journey. That’s all we can ask for.”
Sports Personality of the Year 2022
After a montage of the World Cup, it’s confirmed: Lionel Messi is the World Sport Star of the year. I’m sure the trophy will sit alongside the World Cup in his trophy cabinet.
Sports Personality of the Year 2022
An incredible moment and a very special friendship.
Sports Personality of the Year 2022
Burrow accepts the award on behalf of his friend Doddie Weir, a former winner of the Helen Rollason Award who died last month following a battle with MND.
“I’m totally overcome to win this award,” Burrow says, with the aid of a computer screen connected through an eye-controlled keyboard.
Sinfield accepts the special award after his efforts to raise over £7m for MND causes. “Rob is the most inspirational bloke in the UK. He has inspired us to be better friends. In rugby the connections you have, the friends you make, it doesn’t stop when the whistle blows. Last month communities came together to support MND.
“Doddie used to say, MND isn’t incurable, it’s just underfunded. We will keep doing our best to bang the drum.”
Sports Personality of the Year 2022
A special award is also given to Kevin Sinfield, Burrow’s former team-mate, who has been raising money for MND causes since Burrow was diagnosed in 2019.
Burrow, his wife Lindsey, and Sinfield are all now welcomed onto the stage.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments