'It would better than me winning it!': Sports Personality of the Year favourite Keely Hodgkinson reveals who she'd prefer to win a prize at BBC awards show
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Keely Hodgkinson says winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Tuesday night would be topped if her coach Trevor Painter was also to be honoured at the show. The Olympic 800 metres champion is the odds-on favourite to be crowned SPOTY in Salford on Tuesday night ahead of 17-year-old darts sensation Luke Littler.
![[Hodgkinson insists that her mentor Trevor Painter deserves to win Coach of Year at SPOTY]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/16/93200083-0-image-a-2_1734366589838.jpg)
But Hodgkinson insists she would get more joy from seeing her mentor Painter win Coach of Year, in a field which also includes Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet and USA’s ex-Chelsea women’s manager Emma Hayes. As well as guiding Hodgkinson to gold in Paris, Painter led Georgia Bell to bronze in the 1500m and Lewis Davey to bronze in the men’s 4x400m relay.
![[The annual awards show will take place at MediaCityUK in Salford on Tuesday night]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/16/93200395-0-image-a-3_1734366600635.jpg)
‘It would be even better than me winning it,’ said Hodgkinson when asked about the prospect of Painter triumphing in his category. ‘I think he deserves it so much. ‘I’m not sure of any other coach this year that has put forward as much as he has in getting three Olympic medals within our training group.
![[Luke Littler is second favourite after his stunning run to the World Darts Championship final]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/16/93200501-0-image-a-5_1734366682886.jpg)
Keely Hodgkinson became the star of the Paris Olympics when she raced to 800m gold. Hodgkinson insists that her mentor Trevor Painter deserves to win Coach of Year at SPOTY. The annual awards show will take place at MediaCityUK in Salford on Tuesday night.
![[Keely Hodgkinson is bidding to become the fourth female on the bounce to pick up the BBC's main award after England goalkeeper Mary Earps' triumph last year]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/16/93200231-0-image-a-4_1734366616996.jpg)
‘He just creates such a fun environment for us all that makes us want to keep coming and keep working hard. ‘He’s got a really good work ethic and he believes in all of us. That’s what has helped us achieve so much on the track.’. Should Hodgkinson be successful on Tuesday night, she would be fourth woman in a row to win SPOTY after Emma Raducanu, Beth Mead and Mary Earps.
![[Mark Cavendish was a surprising omission from the six-person shortlist after breaking the Tour de France stage wins record but he will receive the Lifetime Achievement award instead]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/16/93200527-0-image-a-6_1734366788896.jpg)
