Sports Personality of the Year LIVE: Emma Raducanu wins 2021 prize
Follow live reaction after Emma Raducanu beats Tom Daley and Adam Peaty to the 2021 award
Follow live reaction after Emma Raducanu was voted the 2021’s Sports Personality of the Year in recognition of the 18-year-old’s stunning victory at the US Open in September. Raducanu became Britain’s first female singles Grand Slam champion for 44 years when she defeated Leylah Fernandez in a thrilling final in New York.
Tom Daley finished second with Adam Peaty in third. Tyson Fury, Dame Sarah Story and Raheem Sterling were also nominated on the six-person shortlist. Raducanu becomes the first woman to win the award since Zara Phillips in 2006.
“It was such an honour to be named amongst these nominees,” said Raducanu, who was unable to be at the ceremony after tested positive for Covid-19. “To win is pretty amazing to me. I’m really happy with this as I watched Sports Personality of the Year growing up, but I’m really humbled to be able to join the past winners. I’m really happy as well for British tennis that we were able to win this award again. Thank you to all the voters and fans for their support this year - it’s been insane.”
Raducanu rose to prominence during her run to the fourth round of Wimbledon in July before she had to withdraw from her match due to breathing difficulties. But the teenager learned from the experience and didn’t drop a single set on the way to becoming the first qualifier to reach a Grand Slam final, where her dramatic victory over Fernandez captured the attention of the country. Follow below for latest reaction and a full list of award winner from Sports Personality of the Year.
Sports Personality of the Year 2021
What’s the shortlist?
Adam Peaty, 26, swimming
Emma Raducanu, 19, tennis
Raheem Sterling, 27, football
Sarah Storey, 44, cycling
Tom Daley. 27, diving
Tyson Fury, 33, boxing
Sports Personality of the Year 2021
Follow live updates as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award is presented this evening in celebration of a memorable year of British sport. Lewis Hamilton won last year’s prize but he missed out on this year’s shortlist after finishing second to Max Verstappen in the Formula One title race. There are just six nominees up for the main prize, with Emma Raducanu the favourite after her remarkable US Open win back in September. She is joined by world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury after he successfully defended his WBC crown against Deontay Wilder in one of the fights of the year.
Diver Tom Daley grabbed Olympic gold for the first time in his glittering career while Adam Peaty was equally dominant in the Tokyo pool with gold in the 100m breaststroke and 4x100m mixed medley relay. Dame Sarah Storey became Britain’s most successful Paralympian of all time with a 17th gold in Tokyo while the list is rounded out by Raheem Sterling who won another Premier League title with Manchester City before starring in England’s remarkable run to the final of Euro 2020 in the summer.
Several other awards will be up for grabs, including World Sport Star of the Year, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Young Sports Personality of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award, which will go to US gymnast Simone Biles. The ceremony is taking place at MediaCity in Salford but will be held without a live studio audience due to Covid-19. Follow for latest updates, award winners, nominees and reaction from Sports Personality of the Year.
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