Keely Hodgkinson wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year
We are delighted to share that 800m superstar, Keely Hodgkinson (Leigh AC, Trevor Painter) has won the 2024 Sports Personality of the Year Award.
After an outstanding season where she became Olympic and European Champion, Keely joins a phenomenal list of sporting greats who have also received the award - with Kelly Holmes and Linford Christie amongst those.
Speaking on this achievement, England Athletics CEO, Chris Jones, said:
“Everyone at England Athletics – and I’m sure, the wider sport as a whole – was delighted to see Keely crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and I’d like to add our congratulations.
“Keely’s stunning performance in Paris will live long in the memory of all athletics fans, and this recognition demonstrates the impact that it had on the entire British public too.
“Keely continues to be a fantastic ambassador for our sport, and her story reflects so much of what is good about athletics. Determination, lifelong commitment and meticulous preparation all contributed to Keely’s gold in Paris, as did the tireless work of her coaching and support team, including recent England Athletics Hall of Fame inductees Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, who all deserve enormous credit."
It was a successful evening for the M11 Track Club as Trevor and Jenny also received the Coach of the Year award. This award recognised their work as a coaching duo with Keely, and Olympic bronze medallists Georgia Bell and Lewis Davey.
“Similarly, it was fantastic to see Alex Yee shortlisted in the final six, and Phoebe Gill shortlisted for the Young Sports Personality of the Year, in recognition of what has also been a wonderful year for them. 2024 will leave us with a host of fantastic memories, and we are determined to help continue this success on into 2025 and beyond.”
This recognition of Keely's contribution to sport comes just a matter of weeks after her coach, Trevor Painter, was celebrated at the recent UK Coaching Awards as recipient of the High Performance Coach of the Year award.
The Unsung Hero award celebrates the volunteers up and down the country who are so integral to making sport possible and we are delighted that two of the regional winners were from athletics and running. Paul McIntyre, England Athletics National Community Project 2024 winner, received the North West Unsung Hero award for his community impact as a result of the Dabbers Dash. Bob Purcell received the award in the West region for his committed coaching and fundraising efforts at Gloucester Athletics Club.
