Keely Hodgkinson Named BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024
Olympic 800m gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson has been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year, capping off a remarkable season. The 22-year-old from Atherton, near Wigan, became Olympic champion in Paris, retained her European title, and set a British record of 1:54.61, making her the sixth-fastest woman in history over 800m.
“I’m in a bit of shock,” Hodgkinson admitted as she accepted the award. “This year has been incredible and I achieved everything I set out to do on the outdoor track.” She credited her coach, Trevor Painter, for guiding her since she was 17, saying, “I wouldn’t be here without his guidance.”
Hodgkinson winning the award continues a streak of female winners, with Hodgkinson following Mary Earps (2023), Beth Mead (2022), and Emma Raducanu (2021). Her victory was determined by public vote, beating darts prodigy Luke Littler and cricketer Joe Root, who finished second and third respectively.
While darts star Luke Littler missed out on the Sports Personality of the Year Award, he did win the Young Sports Personality of the Year award at just 17 after a standout season with 10 title wins this year, while Joe Root reflected on his record-breaking cricket career, describing it as “one hell of a journey.”
Hodgkinson’s rise to the top
Hodgkinson’s rise has been meteoric. A silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the World Championships in 2022 and 2023, she vowed not to settle for second place again. She delivered on that promise in Paris, dominating her event and becoming only the 10th British woman to win Olympic athletics gold, as well as being Team GB’s first Olympic track title since Mo Farah in 2016.
Hodgkinson’s coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows win Coach of the Year Award
The night also recognized the coaches behind Hodgkinson’s success. Trevor Painter and his wife, Jenny Meadows, shared the Coach of the Year award. “I still have to pinch myself to think Keely is 22 years of age and she has that Olympic title now and four global medals in four successive years,” said Meadows. “It is pretty crazy but we see the work she puts in on a daily basis. She really deserves this moment this evening.”
Mark Cavendish receives lifetime achievement award
Other highlights of the event included a lifetime achievement award for Mark Cavendish, who set a record for Tour de France stage wins, and the Helen Rollason Award for Dr. Mark Prince for his efforts to combat knife crime through the Kiyan Prince Foundation. The ceremony also celebrated achievements across multiple sports, including pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, who retained his Olympic title and broke his world record three times, and rugby league champions Wigan Warriors, who were named Team of the Year.
