‘Large dreamer’ Keely Hodgkinson named BBC Sports activities Character of the 12 months | BBC Sports activities Character of the 12 months

Nobody might cease Keely Hodgkinson on the observe in 2024 – or, because it turned out, the battle for public opinion because the Olympic 800m champion lifted the BBC Sports activities Character of the 12 months award.

“As slightly woman, I dared to dream huge,” mentioned the 22-year-old from Atherton after being rewarded for a exceptional yr, through which she gained Olympic and European gold, obliterated her personal British report, and remained unbeaten over two laps.

The 17-year-old darts prodigy Luke Littler was second after a breakthrough 2024 which included reaching the world darts championship last, whereas the England cricketer Joe Root was third.

However this was Hodgkinson’s evening as she turned the fourth lady in succession to win the award, following Emma Raducanu in 2021, Beth Mead in 2022 and Mary Earps final yr.

Victory was achieved in basic Hodgkinson type. As on the Paris Video games, she was an enormous favorite beforehand. And, as soon as once more, she emerged from a stacked discipline to justify her odds.

“I’m truly a bit in shock,” she admitted, as cries of ‘Keely! Keely!’ rang out throughout the viewers at Media Metropolis in Salford. “This yr has been completely unbelievable for me. I’ve achieved every little thing I’ve got down to do.”

Earlier, her father Dean advised the story about how as a younger woman Hodgkinson had entered an area cross nation race and never solely gained it however lapped everybody.

“I all the time knew I had a little bit of a expertise, I get one of the best out of myself. I took nice inspiration from Jess Ennis at London 2012 and I began to dream,” she mentioned.

These goals shortly turned actuality however after three silver medals on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the 2022 and 2023 world championships, she had advised everyone “that’s not occurring once more.”

And so it proved. And to cap an ideal evening for Hodgkinson, her coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows have been awarded Coach of the 12 months. The husband and spouse pair not solely guided Hodgkinson to gold, however Georgia Bell and Lewis Davey to the ladies’s 1500m and 4x400m relay bronze medals.

‘I’m truly extra excited for my coach Trevor as a result of I wouldn’t be the place I’m with out him and his steering that I’ve had since I used to be 17,” mentioned Hodgkinson.

In the meantime Painter and Meadows shortly returned the praise. “We’re very proud,” mentioned Painter. “It’s thrilling the success we have now had this yr. Spoty is one thing you stay up for yearly.”

Meadows added: “I nonetheless must pinch myself to suppose Keely is 22 years of age and he or she has that Olympic title now and 4 world medals in 4 successive years. It’s fairly loopy however we see the work she places in every day. She actually deserves this second this night. It’s nice to get one other trophy within the cupboard.”

A stellar evening for athletics was capped by the pole vaulter Armand Duplantis being awarded World Star of the 12 months, after retaining his Olympic pole vault title and breaking his personal world report 3 times.

Littler, in the meantime, earned compensation for lacking out on the principle award by being named Younger Character. “I understand how huge the game has received, tickets for the Premier League and Ally Pally offered out in hours,” he mentioned. “It simply goes to point out how a lot I’ve modified it.”

The programme, which had an all-female forged of presenters for the primary time in its historical past in Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott, additionally paid tribute to Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic heroes, in addition to the retiring Andy Murray.

The packed crowd additionally loved the part the place the Strictly Come Dancing judges’ reviewed the six candidates’ footwork, with Motsi Mabuse significantly gushing in her reward for Root’s capacity to “pull off an all-white costume” and “glorious posture”.

Probably the most transferring moments got here when the previous boxer, Dr Mark Prince, was awarded the Helen Rollason Award for his work in combating knife crime.

Prince’s 15-year-old son, Kiyan, was a promising footballer with QPR when he was murdered in 2006. And since his demise his father has tried to stop youth violence on the correct path by boxing, life teaching and establishing the Kiyan Prince Basis.

“The ache was indescribable,” mentioned Prince, who was near tears as he was given the award by Barry McGuigan. “However I’m happy with the actual fact I didn’t give in to bitterness and revenge. There may be hope. It’s about utilizing the ability of option to create legacy.”

Elsewhere Mark Cavendish was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in a season the place he broke Eddy Merckx’s report for the variety of Tour de France wins.

The Wigan Warriors gained the Workforce of the 12 months award after a quadruple of rugby league titles, together with the World Membership Problem and Grand last.

And whereas Littler was the youngest winner of the evening, there was additionally no doubting the oldest, as 90-year-old Jean Paton gained the Unsung Hero Award for volunteering for Salterns Crusing Membership in Hampshire for 40 years.