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KEELY HODGKINSON has been awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year title.
This result was met with disappointment for Luke Littler, who finished in second place at the glamorous ceremony in MediaCity, Salford.
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Other contenders for the award included football star Jude Bellingham, triathlete Alex Yee, Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, and cricketer Joe Root.
Hodgkinson, at just 22, showcased her remarkable talent as one of Team GB’s stars during the Paris Olympics in 2024.
She achieved gold in the 800m event while celebrating in style with a crown.
Upon receiving her award, she expressed her astonishment, admitting she was in “shock”.
She commented: “I am a bit shocked.
“I’m especially thrilled for my coaches [Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows] because I wouldn’t be where I am without their support.
“This year has been incredible, and I have ticked off everything I aimed for on the outdoor track.
“I hope you enjoy watching Paris, and I wish you all a wonderful evening.”
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Originating from Atherton, she also claimed the European title in Rome just two months before her outstanding showing in France.
Hodgkinson shattered the British national record and is now recognized as the sixth fastest woman in history.
Check out behind-the-scenes at SPOTY 2024
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SPOTY top three
Here are the top three in the SPOTY Award voting.
1. Keely Hodgkinson, Olympian
2. Luke Littler, Darts
3. Joe Root, Cricket
In August, Hodkinson was ruled out for the remainder of the year due to a “minor injury”.
She made a stunning appearance at the red carpet ahead of the ceremony, dressed in a black gown.
Earlier this month, she was honored in her hometown of Birmingham with a display at a Pret a Manger.
An exhibit was created showcasing the moment she won gold, featured prominently in the store’s New Street window.
Her coaches, Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, received the Coaches of the Year award.
Littler, 17, gained attention after his impressive run to the PDC World Championship final.
He narrowly lost to Luke Humphries, yet his journey has established him as a leading figure in darts.
Littler has since captured several major titles, accumulating over £1 million in prize money.
Highlights of his 2024 season include winning the Premier League Darts as well as both the Grand Slam of Darts and the World Series Finals.
His meteoric rise in the sport has made him one of the most searched athletes of the year.
He is also going to have his own wax figure at Madame Tussauds.
Littler did find some consolation in winning the Young Sports Personality of the Year award.
Upon accepting the honor, he reflected: “This is a reflection of my performance this year.
“Not just for myself, but I’ve contributed to revolutionizing the darts industry.
“I’ve witnessed the growth of academies opening across the country and the tremendous expansion of the sport.
“Tickets for Ally Pally events sell out within hours, and the success of the Premier League shows the impact I have made.”
Other nominated athletes also had remarkable achievements in their fields.
Root finished as England’s leading scorer in Test cricket, exceeding Sir Alastair Cook’s record.
The batter’s brilliant performance earned him third place in the voting.
However, he missed the ceremony due to his involvement in England’s concluding Test series in New Zealand, which ended Monday night.
Dame Storey triumphed with two gold medals in the C4-C5 road race and the C5 time trials at the Paris Games.
Bellingham excelled for England on their journey to the Euro 2024 final, and played a crucial role at Real Madrid in securing the Champions League and LaLiga titles.
Yee created a lasting memory at the Olympics with his gold medal win in the triathlon.
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