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BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award

Award for athletes, presented by BBC

Award for athletes, presented by BBC

FieldValue
nameBBC Sports Personality of the Year Award
former nameSportsview Personality of the Year
imageSports personality of the year trophy.jpg
altThe trophy for the main award – a silver four-turret lens camera.
awarded_forExcellence in sporting achievement
presenterBBC Sport
countryUnited Kingdom
year
website
holderRory McIlroy (2025; Golf)
holder_labelMost recent winner

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award is the main award of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, which takes place each December. The winner is the sportsperson, judged by a public vote, to have achieved the most that year. The recipient must either be British or reside and play a significant amount of their sport in the United Kingdom. The winner is selected from a predetermined shortlist. The most recent award-winner is golfer Rory McIlroy, who won the 2025 award.

History

Sports Personality of the Year was created by Paul Fox, who thought of the idea while he was editor of the magazine show Sportsview. The first award ceremony took place in 1954 as part of Sportsview, and was presented by Peter Dimmock. For the first show, votes were sent by postcard, and rules presented in a Radio Times article stipulated that nominations were restricted to athletes who had featured on the Sportsview programme since April. Approximately 14,500 votes were cast, and Christopher Chataway beat Roger Bannister to win the inaugural BBC Sportsview's Personality of the Year Award.

Nomination procedure

The shortlist is announced a few weeks before the award ceremony, and the winner is determined on the night by a public telephone and on-line vote. Prior to 2012, a panel of 30 sports journalists each submitted a list of 10 contenders. From these contenders a shortlist of ten nominees was determined. This method was criticized following the selection of an all-male shortlist in 2011. The selection process for contenders was changed for the 2012 and subsequent awards by the introduction of an expert panel. The panel produces a shortlist that reflects UK sporting achievements on the national and/or international stage, represents the breadth and depth of UK sports and takes into account 'impact' within and beyond the sport or sporting achievement in question.

Winners

Five people have won the award more than once: tennis player Andy Murray is the only person to have won three times and the only person to have won in consecutive years, while boxer Henry Cooper and Formula One drivers Nigel Mansell, Lewis Hamilton and Damon Hill have each won twice.

Princess Anne (1971) and her daughter Zara Phillips (2006) are the only award-winners to be members of the same family. The oldest recipient of the award is Dai Rees, who won in 1957 aged 44. Ian Black, who won the following year, aged 17, is the youngest winner. Torvill and Dean, who won in 1984, are the only non-individual winners of the award, so in the 66 years of the award there have been 67 recipients; of these 14 have been female. 17 sporting disciplines have been represented; athletics has the highest representation, with 17 recipients. Counting Torvill and Dean separately, there have been 48 English winners of the award, six Scottish, five Welsh, three Northern Irish, and one Manx.

Awards by year

EditionYearWinnerSportSecondSportThirdSportRef.{{sortnameChristopherChataway}}{{sortnameGordonPirie}}{{sortnameJimLaker}}{{sortnameDaiRees}}{{sortnameJohnSurtees}}{{sortnameDavidBroome}}{{sortnameStirlingMoss}}{{sortnameAnitaLonsbrough}}{{sortnameDorothyHyman}}{{sortnameMaryRand}}{{sortnameTomSimpson}}{{sortnameBobbyMoore}}{{sortnameHenryCooper}}{{sortnameDavidHemery}}{{sortnameAnnJonesAnn Jones (tennis)}}{{sortnameHenryCooper}}{{sortAnne Elizabeth Alice LouisePrincess Anne}}{{sortnameJackieStewart}}{{sortnameBrendanFoster}}{{sortnameJohnCurry}}{{sortnameVirginiaWade}}{{sortnameSteveOvett}}{{sortnameSebastianCoe}}{{sortnameRobinCousins}}{{sortnameIanBotham}}{{sortnameDaleyThompson}}{{sortnameSteveCram}}Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean{{sortnameBarryMcGuigan}}{{sortnameNigelMansell}}{{sortnameFatimaWhitbread}}{{sortnameSteveDavis}}{{sortnameNickFaldo}}{{sortnamePaulGascoigne}}{{sortnameLizMcColgan}}{{sortnameNigelMansell}}{{sortnameLinfordChristie}}{{sortnameDamonHill}}{{sortnameDamonHill}}{{sortnameGregRusedski}}{{sortnameMichaelOwen}}{{sortnameLennoxLewis}}{{sortnameSteveRedgrave}}{{sortnameDavidBeckham}}{{sortnamePaulaRadcliffe}}{{sortnameJonnyWilkinson}}{{sortnameKellyHolmes}}{{sortnameAndrewFlintoff}}{{sortnameZaraPhillips}}{{sortnameJoeCalzaghe}}{{sortnameChrisHoy}}{{sortnameRyanGiggs}}{{sortnameTonyMcCoy}}{{sortnameMarkCavendish}}{{sortnameBradleyWiggins}}{{sortnameAndyMurray}}{{sortnameLewisHamilton}}{{sortnameAndyMurray}}{{sortnameAndyMurray}}{{sortnameMoFarah}}{{sortnameGeraintThomas}}{{sortnameBenStokes}}{{sortnameLewisHamilton}}{{sortnameEmmaRaducanu}}{{sortnameBethMead}}{{sortnameMaryEarps}}{{sortnameKeelyHodgkinson}}{{sortnameRoryMcIlroy}}
1st1954Athletics{{sortnameRogerBannister}}Athletics{{sortnamePatSmythe}}Show jumping
2nd1955AthleticsNo record}}align=centerNo record}}align=center
3rd1956CricketNo record}}align=centerNo record}}align=center
4th1957Golf{{sortnameStirlingMoss}}Formula One{{sortnameDerekIbbotson}}Athletics
5th1958Swimming{{sortnameBobbyCharlton}}Football{{sortnameNatLofthouse}}Football
6th1959Motorcycle racing{{sortnameBobbyCharlton}}FootballSwimming
7th1960Show jumpingAthletics{{sortnameAnitaLonsbrough}}Swimming
8th1961Formula OneBoxing{{sortnameAngelaMortimer}}Tennis
9th1962Swimming{{sortnameDorothyHyman}}Athletics{{sortnameLindaLudgrove}}Swimming
10th1963Athletics{{sortnameBobbyMcGregor}}Swimming{{sortnameJimClark}}Formula One
11th1964Athletics{{sortnameBarryBriggs}}Speedway{{sortnameAnnPacker}}Athletics
12th1965Cycling{{sortnameJimClark}}Formula One{{sortnameMarionCoakes}}Show jumping
13th1966Football{{sortnameBarryBriggs}}Speedway{{sortnameGeoffHurst}}Football
14th1967Boxing{{sortnameBerylBurton}}CyclingShow jumping
15th1968Athletics{{sortnameGrahamHill}}Formula One{{sortnameMarionCoakes}}Show jumping
16th1969Tennis{{sortnameTonyJacklin}}Golf{{sortnameGeorgeBest}}Football
17th1970Boxing{{sortnameTonyJacklin}}Golf{{sortnameBobbyMoore}}Football
18th1971Eventing{{sortnameGeorgeBest}}Football{{sortnameBarryJohn}}Rugby union
19th1972Athletics{{sortnameGordonBanks}}FootballEventing
20th1973Formula OneTennis{{sortnamePaddyMcMahonPaddy McMahon (equestrian)}}Show jumping
21st1974Athletics{{sortnameJohnConteh}}Boxing{{sortnameWillie JohnMcBride}}Rugby union
22nd1975Cricket{{sortnameAlanPascoe}}AthleticsSwimming
23rd1976Figure skating{{sortnameJamesHunt}}Formula OneSwimming
24th1977Tennis{{sortnameGeoffreyBoycott}}Cricket{{sortnameBarrySheene}}Motorcycle racing
25th1978Athletics{{sortnameDaleyThompson}}Athletics{{sortnameIanBotham}}Cricket
26th1979Athletics{{sortnameIanBotham}}Cricket{{sortnameKevinKeegan}}Football
27th1980Figure skating{{sortnameSebastianCoe}}Athletics{{sortnameDaleyThompson}}Athletics
28th1981Cricket{{sortnameSteveDavis}}Snooker{{sortnameSebastianCoe}}Athletics
29th1982Athletics{{sortnameAlexHiggins}}Snooker{{sortnameSteveCram}}Athletics
30th1983AthleticsJayne Torvill and Christopher DeanFigure skating{{sortnameDaleyThompson}}Athletics
31st1984Figure skating{{sortnameSebastianCoe}}Athletics{{sortnameSteveDavis}}Snooker
32nd1985Boxing{{sortnameIanBotham}}Cricket{{sortnameSteveCram}}Athletics
33rd1986Formula One{{sortnameFatimaWhitbread}}Athletics{{sortnameKennyDalglish}}Football
34th1987Athletics{{sortnameSteveDavis}}Snooker{{sortnameIanWoosnam}}Golf
35th1988Snooker{{sortnameAdrianMoorhouse}}Swimming{{sortnameSandyLyle}}Golf
36th1989Golf{{sortnameFrankBruno}}Boxing{{sortnameSteveDavis}}Snooker
37th1990Football{{sortnameStephenHendry}}Snooker{{sortnameGrahamGooch}}Cricket
38th1991Athletics{{sortnameWillCarling}}Rugby union{{sortnameGaryLineker}}Football
39th1992Formula One{{sortnameLinfordChristie}}Athletics{{sortnameSallyGunnell}}Athletics
40th1993Athletics{{sortnameSallyGunnell}}Athletics{{sortnameNigelMansell}}CART
41st1994Formula One{{sortnameSallyGunnell}}Athletics{{sortnameColinJackson}}Athletics
42nd1995Athletics{{sortnameFrankBruno}}Boxing{{sortnameColinMcRae}}Rallying
43rd1996Formula One{{sortnameSteveRedgrave}}Rowing{{sortnameFrankieDettori}}Horse racing
44th1997Tennis{{sortnameTimHenman}}Tennis{{sortnameSteveRedgrave}}Rowing
45th1998Football{{sortnameDeniseLewis}}Athletics{{sortnameIwanThomas}}Athletics
46th1999Boxing{{sortnameDavidBeckham}}Football{{sortnameColinJackson}}Athletics
47th2000Rowing{{sortnameDeniseLewis}}Athletics{{sortnameTanniGrey-Thompson}}Athletics
48th2001Football{{sortnameEllenMacArthur}}Sailing{{sortnameMichaelOwen}}Football
49th2002Athletics{{sortnameDavidBeckham}}Football{{sortnameTonyMcCoy}}Horse racing
50th2003Rugby unionRugby union{{sortnamePaulaRadcliffe}}Athletics
51st2004Athletics{{sortnameMatthewPinsent}}Rowing{{sortnameAndrewFlintoff}}Cricket
52nd2005Cricket{{sortnameEllenMacArthur}}Sailing{{sortnameStevenGerrard}}Football
53rd2006Eventing{{sortnameDarrenClarke}}Golf{{sortnameBethTweddle}}Gymnastics
54th2007Boxing{{sortnameLewisHamilton}}Formula One{{sortnameRickyHatton}}Boxing
55th2008Cycling{{sortnameLewisHamilton}}Formula One{{sortnameRebeccaAdlington}}Swimming
56th2009Football{{sortnameJensonButton}}Formula One{{sortnameJessicaEnnisJessica Ennis-Hill}}Athletics
57th2010Horse racingDarts{{sortnameJessicaEnnisJessica Ennis-Hill}}Athletics
58th2011Cycling{{sortnameDarrenClarke}}Golf{{sortnameMoFarah}}Athletics
59th2012Cycling{{sortnameJessicaEnnisJessica Ennis-Hill}}Athletics{{sortnameAndyMurray}}Tennis
60th2013Tennis{{sortnameLeighHalfpenny}}Rugby union{{sortnameTonyMcCoy}}Horse racing
61st2014Formula One{{sortnameRoryMcIlroy}}Golf{{sortnameJoPavey}}Athletics
62nd2015Tennis{{sortnameKevinSinfield}}Rugby league{{sortnameJessicaEnnis-Hill}}Athletics
63rd2016Tennis{{sortnameAlistairBrownlee}}Triathlon{{sortnameNickSkelton}}Show jumping
64th2017Athletics{{sortnameJonathanRea}}Motorcycle racing{{sortnameJonniePeacock}}Athletics
65th2018Cycling{{sortnameLewisHamilton}}Formula One{{sortnameHarryKane}}Football
66th2019Cricket{{sortnameLewisHamilton}}Formula One{{sortnameDinaAsher-Smith}}Athletics
67th2020Formula One{{sortnameJordanHenderson}}Football{{sortnameHollieDoyle}}Horse racing
68th2021Tennis{{sortnameTomDaley}}Diving{{sortnameAdamPeaty}}Swimming
69th2022Football{{sortnameBenStokes}}Cricket{{sortnameEveMuirhead}}Curling
70th2023Football{{sortnameStuartBroad}}Cricket{{sortnameKatarinaJohnson-Thompson}}Athletics
71st2024Athletics{{sortnameLukeLittler}}Darts{{sortnameJoeRoot}}Cricket
72nd2025Golf{{sortnameEllieKildunne}}Rugby Union{{sortnameLandoNorris}}Formula One

By sport

This table lists the total number of awards won by the winner's sport.

Accurate up to and including the 2025 award.

SportFirst place(s)Second place(s)Third place(s)Total placing(s)AthleticsFormula OneFootballTennisCricketBoxingCyclingGolfFigure skatingSwimmingEventingSnookerRugby unionRowingMotorcycle racingShow jumpingHorse racingSailingDartsSpeedwayDivingRugby leagueTriathlonCARTCurlingGymnasticsRallyingTotal

By number of awards

The below table lists all people who have finished in the top three places more than once.

RecipientFirst place(s)Second place(s)Third place(s)Total placings(s)Torvill and Dean
3014
2406
2013
2002
2002
1225
1214
1214
1203
1124
1113
1102
1102
1102
1102
1102
1102
1102
1023
1023
1012
1012
1012
1012
1012
1012
1012
0213
0202
0202
0202
0202
0202
0202
0202
0134
0112
0112
0022
0022
0022

By gender

This table lists the total number of awards won by the winner's gender. The figure-skating couple Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean are counted as a single mixed-gender winner.

Accurate up-to and including the 2025 award.

GenderFirst place(s)Second place(s)Third place(s)Total placing(s)MaleFemaleMixedTotal

Notes

References

General

Specific

References

  1. (16 November 2000). "Peter Dimmock". BBC.
  2. Marcus, Laurence. (2005). "Sports Personality of the Year". televisionheaven.co.uk.
  3. (11 November 2003). "50th Sports Personality of the Year: Facts and figures". BBC.
  4. Kessel, Anna. (9 November 2008). "BBC battle of the sexes". [[The Observer]].
  5. "BBC Sports Personality". [[Virgin Media]].
  6. Baker, Andrew. (13 December 2008). "Action Replay: Christopher Chataway wins first BBC Sports Personality of the Year award". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
  7. (December 2007). "BBC Sports Personality of the Year: previous winners". BBC.
  8. Prosser, Michael. (20 December 2007). "Golf: Joe's success mirrors Dai's big day". Media Wales.
  9. "Jim Laker". [[ESPN]].
  10. (12 December 1957). "Sportsman of the Year". The Times.
  11. (13 December 2008). "Black an original Scottish sporting icon". [[The Scotsman]].
  12. "Sports Personality of the Year". [[Radio Times]].
  13. Davies, Gareth A.. (11 December 2008). "Joe Calzaghe fulfilled by BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
  14. Hayes, Alex. (13 December 1998). "Vox Pop: Six past winners of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award give their choices for 1998". [[The Independent]].
  15. "First woman to win Sports Personality". BBC Sport.
  16. (2 December 2001). "The OSM lowdown on...BBC Sports Personality of the Year". [[The Observer]].
  17. Gillon, Doug. (13 October 2008). "Mary rand wins long-jump gold". [[The Herald (Glasgow).
  18. Gallagher, Brendan. (3 August 2007). "Tom Simpson haunts Tour 40 years on". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
  19. Griffiths, Danny. (12 February 2009). "Different eras, both great figures". [[Metro (Associated Metro Limited).
  20. Viner, Brian. (13 December 2003). "Sir Henry Cooper: Nation still reveres Cooper as lord of the ring". [[The Independent]].
  21. Keating, Frank. (14 October 2008). "Hemery, Beamon and Smith lead my parade". [[The Guardian]].
  22. (12 December 1969). "Ann Jones is top sports personality". [[Birmingham Post]].
  23. (17 December 1970). "Cooper again". [[Leicester Mercury]].
  24. Corrigan, Peter. (14 December 2003). "Bravo for Jonny but Beeb need new act". [[The Independent]].
  25. Hubbard, Alan. (10 December 2000). "Denise plays the dame game". [[The Independent]].
  26. Davies, Gareth A.. (21 August 2007). "My Sport: Brendan Foster". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
  27. "Steele wins 1975 Sports Personality". BBC Sport.
  28. "Sports Personality of the Year: Previous winners". BBC Sport.
  29. (15 July 2008). "Steve Ovett". [[UK Athletics]].
  30. (11 May 2007). "Steve Cram". [[UK Athletics]].
  31. Stevenson, Sandra. (14 February 2004). "Ice skating: Frozen in time". [[The Independent]].
  32. Philip, Robert. (5 December 2007). "Gary Lineker's dog days now a distant memory". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
  33. Jackson, Jamie. (2 March 2003). "Triumph and despair: Fatima Whitbread". [[The Observer]].
  34. Wilson, Jeremy. (16 April 2009). "Snooker's Steve Davis ready to return to the Crucible". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
  35. Stewart, Rob. (14 February 2008). "The life and times of Paul Gascoigne". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
  36. (2001). "Alternative Sports Personality of the Year 2001: 5. Bob Nudd". [[The Guardian]].
  37. White, Jim. (2 June 2020). "Angling world champion Bob Nudd relishes return to the water".
  38. Pattullo, Alan. (16 December 2008). "Sir Jackie and McColgan lead the way in praising winner's fantastic achievement". [[The Scotsman]].
  39. (14 December 1992). "Mansell, Sports Personality of the Year". [[Independent News & Media]].
  40. (14 December 1993). "Linford Christie said yesterday that he may defend his Olympic 100 metres title in Atlanta in 1996.". [[The Independent]].
  41. Viner, Brian. (13 December 2008). "Sports Personality of the Year: Should it be her (or him?)". [[The Independent]].
  42. Rowbottom, Mike. (19 December 2000). "Edwards in the exalted company of Shearer". [[The Independent]].
  43. (12 December 1996). "Bramwell Speaks Out: Auntie's social club mars personality prize". [[Lancashire Evening Telegraph]].
  44. Corrigan, James. (8 December 2002). "Sport on TV: And the losers are... personalities". [[The Independent on Sunday]].
  45. Hayes, Alex. (11 July 1999). "Motor Racing: Damon Hill – Laps And Lapses of a Boy Racer". [[The Independent]].
  46. Reade, Brian. (19 December 1997). "Personality bypass for TV turkeys; The column that puts the boot into sport". [[Daily Mirror.
  47. Hookham, Richard. (16 December 2008). "Top Five... odd Sports Personality Winners". [[Metro (Associated Metro Limited).
  48. (10 December 2007). "Welsh boxing champ pips Lewis to Sports Personality Award". [[Hello! (magazine).
  49. Gray, Chris. (11 December 2000). "Redgrave voted Sports Personality of the Year". [[The Independent]].
  50. Mott, Sue. (10 December 2001). "Sports Personality award mixed blessing for Beckham". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
  51. Knight, Tom. (9 December 2002). "Radcliffe to defend her London title". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
  52. Leach, Conrad. (15 December 2003). "Sports Personalities of the Year: Wilkinson wins BBC award". [[The Independent]].
  53. Rowbottom, Mike. (13 December 2004). "Sports Awards: Holmes wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year". [[The Independent]].
  54. Fraser, Angus. (12 December 2005). "Flintoff's perfect year capped by top sports award". [[The Independent]].
  55. Corrigan, James. (11 December 2006). "Phillips is surprise winner of top Sports Personality award". [[The Independent]].
  56. Bolton, Paul. (10 December 2007). "Calzaghe is BBC Sports Personality of the Year". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
  57. Kelso, Paul. (14 December 2008). "Chris Hoy named BBC Sports Personality of the Year". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
  58. Giggs, Ryan. (13 December 2009). "BBC Sport – Sports Personality of the Year – Ryan Giggs wins 2009 BBC Sports Personality award". [[BBC Sport]].
  59. McCoy, AP. (19 December 2010). "Jockey AP McCoy wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year". BBC.
  60. (22 December 2011). "BBC Sport – Sports Personality of the Year 2011: Mark Cavendish wins top award". BBC News.
  61. (16 December 2013). "Bradley Wiggins wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year". BBC Sport.
  62. (15 December 2013). "Andy Murray wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2013". BBC Sport.
  63. (14 December 2014). "Lewis Hamilton wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2014". BBC Sport.
  64. (20 December 2015). "Andy Murray wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015 – as it happened!". The Guardian Online.
  65. (18 December 2016). "BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016: Andy Murray wins for a record third time". BBC Sport.
  66. (17 December 2017). "BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2017: World 10,000m champion Mo Farah wins". BBC.
  67. (16 December 2018). "Sports Personality of the Year winner: Geraint Thomas triumphs after Tour de France success". BBC.
  68. (15 December 2019). "Sports Personality of the Year 2019: Ben Stokes crowned winner". BBC.
  69. (20 December 2020). "Hamilton wins 2020 BBC Sports Personality of the Year - reaction". BBC.
  70. (19 December 2021). "Sports Personality 2021: Emma Raducanu crowned winner". BBC Sport.
  71. "Mead wins Sports Personality of the Year". BBC Sport.
  72. "Mary Earps wins Sports Personality of the Year 2023".
  73. (2024-12-17). "Keely Hodgkinson wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024".
  74. (2025-12-18). "Rory McIlroy voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025".
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