Leeds Beckett student wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year

A Leeds Beckett Uuniversity student has been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024.

Keely Hodgkinson, Olympic gold medallist and Leeds Beckett criminology with psychology student, won the women’s 800m race at the Paris Olympics earlier this year

The 22-year-old took home her first global title in 2024 and became the sixth-fastest woman of all-time.

She had previously won silver at several World Championships as well as at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at the age of 19.

This is the first time in history that a woman has won the award four years in a row with previous winners including Emma Raducanu, Beth Mead and Mary Earps.

Luke Littler, 17 year old darts player, came in second while England cricketer, Joe Root, placed third.

Other nominees included Jude Bellingham, Alex Yee and Sarah Storey. The shortlisted group were chosen by a panel of experts. The final winner was then decided by a public vote.

Keely is also the first athlete to win Sports Personality of the Year since Mo Farah in 2017 and the first female athlete since 2004, when Dame Kelly Holmes took home the title.

“I’m actually a bit in shock,” Keely said to BBC One upon winning the award.

“I’m actually more excited for my coach [Trevor Painter], to be honest, because I wouldn’t be where I am without him and his guidance since I was 17.

Thanking everyone for voting for her, she said: “This year has been absolutely incredible for me. I’ve achieved everything I set out to do on the outdoor track which is kind of rare so I’m so grateful to be in this position.

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“Thank you to everyone who voted at home as well. I hope you all loved watching Paris just as much as I loved competing in it.”

Keely took to TikTok and Instagram soon after her win, mouthing to Kanye West’s award speech: “Everybody wanna know what I’d do if I didn’t win. I guess we’ll never know,” while beaming alongside her trophy.

@keelynhodgkinson

♬ original sound – findgodye

Keely’s coaches, Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, also won an award, walking away with Coach of the Year titles.

Jenny told BBC One: “Trevor and I have walked this walk before and we knew how to navigate it with you guys [Keely Hodgkinson’s parents].

“From 19 being in the public eye and then a lot of firsts, like moving into her own house.

“We have seen her navigate those three years brilliantly.”

Featured image via Instagram @keely.hodgkinson