Keely Hodgkinson won the 2024 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, while runner-up Luke Littler claimed the Young SPOTY award.
Hodgkinson completed her ascent to athletics superstardom by winning 800m gold for Great Britain at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Littler, who started the World Darts Championship last year as a 16-year-old, was beaten in the final at Alexandra Palace, but his success had a huge impact on the sport's popularity.
Joe Root, who became England's all-time leading run-scorer in October, finished third. Sarah Story, Alex Yee and Jude Bellingham were the other finalists for the public vote.
Hodgkinson burst onto the global stage at the age of 19 by winning silver in the 800 meters at the Tokyo Olympics.
Few outside the British athletics scene had heard of her at the time, but those who did knew she was destined for stardom.
She won two World Championship silver medals before finally giving up on a golden evening in early August in Paris.
Hodgkinson's success makes it an unprecedented four years in a row that the award has been won by a woman, following Mary Earps in 2023, Beth Mead in 2022 and Emma Raducanu in 2021.
Littler has had a sensational year in 2024, claiming 10 titles including his first Grand Slam of Darts ranking, a feat only previously completed by Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright.
Littler's meteoric rise has seen him become the face of the sport, with the likes of David Beckham sending him messages of luck as he went from world youth champion to the heart of the professional game.
Wigan Warriors are named team of the year
Super League champions Wigan Warriors were named team of the year after winning four trophies in a historic 2024.
The Warriors started the season by defeating Australia's three-time NRL champions Penrith Panthers to win the World Club Challenge.
They then added the Challenge Cup and League Leaders' Shield, before beating Hull KR in October's grand final at Old Trafford.
It is only the third time in the history of the award that a Rugby League club has won it, with Wigan adding to their triumph in 1994 and St Helens' victory in 2006.
Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match exclusively live from 15 December to 3 January on Sky Sports' dedicated darts channel. Stream Arrows and more top sports with NOW.
Source link