Lewis Hamilton was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2020 this evening.
Kevin Sinfield, former Leeds Rhinos Captain, was on hand to deliver the outcome of the public vote with Jordan Henderson coming in second and Hollie Doyle in third place for the coveted award.
“I want to say a congratulations to all the incredible nominees and say thank you to everybody who has voted for me. I really wasn’t expecting this knowing that there were so many great contenders, we are all winners.”
(Lewis Hamilton)
It is Hamilton’s second time claiming the honour after winning six years ago. The F1 driver claimed the award after winning a record-equalling seventh Formula 1 World Championship and surpassing Michael Schumacher’s 91 Grand Prix wins.
Gary Lineker, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott presented the live show from Salford in front of a 1000-strong virtual audience and millions watching on BBC One.
This year BBC Sports Personality of the Year celebrated the very best of elite sport but also shone a light on ordinary members of the public and Unsung Heroes all over the UK who have used the power of sport to keep the nation going through challenging times.
The Helen Rollason Award was presented to Captain Sir Tom Moore by Dame Jess Ennis-Hill in a heart-warming film that saw former Olympic champion Jess visit the inspirational man.
The award, which recognises outstanding achievement in the face of adversity, was presented in recognition of Captain Tom’s heroic triumph to raise a staggering £38.9million for the NHS while walking laps of his garden in the run up to his 100th birthday. His fundraising efforts also lead to an honorary Colonel title and a Knighthood this summer.
A new award for 2020 saw the first ever winner of the Captain Tom Young Unsung Hero award.
This was awarded to 9 year old Tobias Weller who, inspired by Captain Tom and managing cerebral palsy and autism, went from walking 50m a day to completing the length of a marathon during lockdown using his walker. Tobias also began a new ‘Tobiathon’ challenge to run the same distance using a race runner. His determination and hard work has raised more than £150,292 for Sheffield Children’s hospital and Pace School.
A Panel Special Award was presented to footballer Marcus Rashford to recognise his work to raise awareness of child food poverty in the UK. The show’s judging panel unanimously agreed that Rashford’s accomplishments off the pitch should be commended and the Premier League striker was presented with the trophy in a special moment of the show.
A significantly poignant moment in the show saw the BBC Unsung Hero award given posthumously to Sergeant Matiu Ratana, who tragically lost his life earlier this year after being shot while on police duty. Matiu, known as Matt, was a Sergeant at the Metropolitan Police for almost thirty years but also held a passion for rugby which saw him become Head Coach of East Grinstead Rugby Club (voluntarily), as well as carrying out his police role.
He arrived at East Grinstead RFC at a tumultuous time for the club, as it struggled to stay afloat. Matt brought the community together to ensure the club’s continued existence and encouraged people to reach their best, both on and off the pitch, paying personal attention particularly to the lives of young people at the club. The award was bravely collected by his partner Su Bushby on the evening.
Liverpool FC took home Team of the Year after winning the Premier League for the first time this summer, ending their long 30-year wait for a top-flight title. However, the team have certainly not been short of silverware in the past three decades, winning the Champions League twice, three FA Cups, four League Cups, a Uefa Cup, three Super Cups and one Club World Cup.
Jurgen Klopp was named Coach of the Year for his role in leading Liverpool FC to victory this this season. Klopp arrived at Anfield with a track record of success, having led Borussia Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles and the 2013 Champions League final. His four full seasons with Liverpool to date have yielded finishing positions of fourth, fourth, second and now a historic first.
They broke the English top-flight record by clinching the title with an incredible seven fixtures to spare.
Diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix was named as the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year. The award follows a successful year for diver Andrea after she claimed her first solo international gold medal at the FINA Diving Grand Prix in Rostock in the Women’s 10m Platform, aged just 15. This added to her winning a maiden senior British title in the same event at the British National Diving Championships just a month previously.
Khabib Nurmagomedov was voted by the public as World Sport Star of the Year . Khabib took his perfect professional record to 29 wins and no losses with a resounding and emotional win over interim champion Justin Gaethje in October.
The Russian bravely fought just months after the death of his father, coach and mentor Abdulmanap to pull off a trademark dominant victory. Straight after the bout, Khabib announced he was hanging up his gloves with his status as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time assured.
Aside from the incredible awards, the live show also saw music acts Celeste and Rick Astley perform. Celeste performed Stop This Flame to open proceedings as well as a moving rendition of Smile to remember those sporting greats that we have lost this year. To celebrate further the unsung heroes of 2020, Rick sang Every One of Us, which was released earlier this year to recognise the BBC Unsung Hero awards.
