Keely Hodgkinson's modest admission moments after BBC SPOTY win sums up superstar
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Superstar Keely Hodgkinson insisted she was “shocked” after being crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Hodgkinson, 22, was a huge favourite after winning 800m Olympic gold in Paris in such style. She also took European Championships gold and her new British record of one minute 54.61 seconds made her the sixth fastest woman in history over the distance.
But after a brilliant 12 months, she insisted: “I’m actually in shock. I’m more excited for my coach [Trevor Painter, who won the Coach of the Year award along with wife Jenny Meadows] to be honest because I wouldn’t be where I am without him and his guidance that I have had since I was 17.
“It’s been incredible this year for me. I’m so grateful for everyone voting. And I hope everyone loved watching Paris as much as I loved competing in it. “You look down the list of past [SPOTY] winners - not just in track and field - British icons. It’s great to put my name up there as well.”.
Painter and Meadows also coached Georgia Bell to 800m bronze in Paris as well as Lewis Davey who took bronze in the men’s 4x400m relay. More than 9m people tuned in to see Hodgkinson shine in the Stade de France and she became the first female athlete since Kelly Holmes 20 years ago to win SPOTY.
Teen darts sensation Luke Littler came second, failing to topple Hodgkinson, but did win the Young Sports Personality of the Year. He said: “It shows how well I have done this year. I know how big the sport has got – and it just goes to show how much I have changed it.”.
