BBC Sports Personality of the Year nominees unveiled
Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps has been crowned Sports Personality of the Year, topping the public vote ahead of retired England bowler Stuart Broad and world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson to win the prestigious award.
Earps played a vital role as the Lionesses reached their first Women’s World Cup final this summer and won the Golden Glove at the tournament following a series of brilliant performances between the posts – including a penalty save in the Sydney final as Spain beat England 1-0.
The 30-year-old made further headlines with her response to Nike’s decision to not make the Lionesses goalkeeping jerseys available for sale during the World Cup. Following a wave of support, Nike were forced into a U-turn and Earps’ shirt sold out in minutes amid “unprecedented” demand when it was eventually made available to buy earlier this month.
The goalkeeper succeeds England teammate Beth Mead to become the second women’s footballer to win the Sports Personality of the Year award in as many years.
Manchester City won Team of the Year, manager Pep Guardiola claimed Coach of the Year and Erling Haaland was named World Sports Star after the club’s historic Treble campaign. Liverpool and Scotland legend Kenny Dalglish received the Lifetime Achievement award and former world javelin champion Fatima Whitbread took the Helen Rollason award.
Follow live updates from the Sports Personality of the Year ceremony in our live blog, below:
Mary Earps is the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year
Mary Earps reveals surprising nuance about ‘brutal’ football at Sports Personality of the Year
Harry Latham-Coyle19 December 2023 21:22
Mary Earps is the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year
Back-to-back SPOTY awards for the Lionesses, with Mary Earps following teammate Beth Mead to the gong. It’s also the third year in a row that a sportswoman has claimed the prize (Emma Raducanu, 2021) for the first time since the early 1960s.
Harry Latham-Coyle19 December 2023 21:10
Mary Earps is the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year
“I feel a bit sick, actually! First of all, I’d like to say how humbled I am to be on a list with such incredible athletes. Sport is a fantastic thing where it brings the world together, so congratulations to you all. Thanks to everyone that voted for me. I am very honoured and humbled – it’s the ultimate all-round sporting accolade. This is just…wow! It’s not been the easiest journey and I wouldn’t be here without so many people in my corner, so thanks to them. They’ve been with me through the really, really not so great times. The last two years have been unbelievable.”
Harry Latham-Coyle19 December 2023 21:06
And the winner of the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award is…
Harry Latham-Coyle19 December 2023 21:03
Harry Latham-Coyle19 December 2023 21:02
In the third place is…
Katarina Johnson-Thompson
Harry Latham-Coyle19 December 2023 21:02
Sports Personality of the Year
It’s time for the primary prize of the evening, the 70th awarding of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
1984 winners Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean will do the honours…
Harry Latham-Coyle19 December 2023 21:01
Team and Coach of the Year
It’s a double prize for Manchester City – they are named Team of the Year after their treble, with Pep Guardiola named Coach of the Year. Kyle Walker and Pep Guardiola apologise that they are otherwise engaged.
Harry Latham-Coyle19 December 2023 20:56
Lifetime Achievement Award
From one footballer to another, and the great Kenny Dalgish, the winner of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Alan Hansen presents the trophy to his great mate as Gerry and the Pacemakers play, the pair sharing a warm embrace. He’s joined on stage by his family and a collection of some of his past players and fellow footballing stars.
“I’m very grateful to the BBC, I will treasure this dearly. There are a lot of people to thank. All we did with football is to try and make people happy, and the best way to make people happy is to get results. If they enjoyed us winning, it is a fraction of the enjoyment we got from the support they gave us. It’s not about taking part, it’s about winning for me, and fortunately we were able to do that.”
Harry Latham-Coyle19 December 2023 20:53
World Sport Star of the Year
Quickly on to our next award, and Erling Haaland takes the gong for World Sport Star of the Year from a coterie of sporting superstars.
Haaland thanks those who voted for him after an “incredible” year that saw him fire Manchester City to the treble.
Harry Latham-Coyle19 December 2023 20:44
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