Keely Hodgkinson Crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024

Olympic 800m gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024. The 22-year-old athlete secured her first global title with a victory at Paris 2024. She had previously earned consecutive silver medals at the World Championships, following her runner-up finish in her Olympic debut in Tokyo three years ago. Furthermore, Hodgkinson successfully defended her European 800m title in Rome and became the sixth-fastest woman of all time by improving her British record to one minute 54.61 seconds at the London Diamond League. Speaking to BBC One, Hodgkinson stated, “I am in a bit of shock. I am more excited for my coach as I wouldn’t be here without his guidance. This year has been incredible and I achieved everything I set out to do on the outdoor track. I hope you loved watching Paris.” Darts player Luke Littler finished second, with England cricketer Joe Root placing third. Sarah Storey, Alex Yee, and Jude Bellingham were also among the shortlisted candidates for the award by a panel of experts, with the ultimate winner determined by a public vote. Hodgkinson marks the fourth successive woman to win the award, following Mary Earps (2023), Beth Mead (2022), and Emma Raducanu (2021). Earlier in the evening, the Leigh athlete’s coaches, Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, were recognised with the Coach of the Year award. Hodgkinson remained undefeated over 800m in a sensational year, which culminated in the Olympic gold she had been determined to achieve after a series of near-misses. Having retained the European gold, which in 2022 represented her first major outdoor title, she triumphed in dominant fashion in Paris to deliver Team GB’s first Olympic track title since Mo Farah’s 5,000m and 10,000m double at Rio 2016. She became only the 10th British woman to win an athletics gold at an Olympics, and the first since Jessica Ennis-Hill at London 2012. Starting as a little-known teenager who announced herself with Olympic silver in Tokyo, Hodgkinson rapidly established herself as one of the world’s best, battling ‘Big Three’ rivals Athing Mu and Mary Moraa for the sport’s biggest prizes. However, she has remained unwavering in her determination to take that next step on the podium in her pursuit of becoming one of Britain’s most decorated athletes. Now, with the improved British record she set at the London Diamond League in July, athletics’ longest-standing world record – set by Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova with 1:53.28 in 1983 – could be within Hodgkinson’s sights. Next year offers further opportunities for glory, with indoor and outdoor World Championships for Hodgkinson to target as a new Olympic cycle begins.