Tennis player Emma Raducanu has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The award, which is presented along with others at the annual ceremony, is voted by the public and recognises the athlete who has achieved the most each year.  

On September 11th, 2021, Raducanu beat Leylah Hernandez in a thrilling US Open final. At 18, she became the youngest Briton ever to win a grand slam title and ended a 44-year wait for a women’s grand slam singles champion from the UK. She is also the first women to win the US open without losing a set in the tournament since tennis icon Serena Williams in 2014. On receiving the award, Raducanu said she was “really humbled to join the amazing past winners”.  

Diver Tom Daley, who won his first gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games came second. He won the synchcronised 10m platform event with Matty Lee at his fourth Olympics. In third place was swimmer Adam Peaty, who became the first British person to successfully defend an Olympic swimming title when he won gold in the 100m breaststroke. Other shortlist nominees were boxer Tyson Fury, footballer Raheem Sterling and Paralympic cyclist Dame Sarah Storey.  

World Sport Star of the Year, which recognises international achievements, was awarded to Rachael Blackmore. The Irish jockey became the first woman to win the prestigious Grand National steeplechase, a type of horse race where contestants jump over fences along the way.  

Gareth Southgate and the England men’s football team were named Coach of the Year and Team of the Year respectively. They reached the final of the Euro 2020 men’s football tournament, after a 55-year wait to reach a major tournament final.  

Young Sports Personality of the Year is Sky Brown. She shot to fame after winning Bronze at the Women’s Park skateboarding event at the Olympics, becoming Team GB’s youngest medallist ever aged 13. She also won gold in the same event at the X Games just weeks earlier. These achievements are even more impressive considering a year earlier she suffered multiple serious injuries, including a fractured skull, after a bad fall in training. 

American gymnast Simone Biles won the lifetime achievement award. She is one of the most decorated gymnasts ever, with four Olympic golds and 19 World Championship titles. However, at the Tokyo Olympic games she withdrew to focus on her mental health after experiencing the twisties- a dangerous mental block which can cause gymnasts to lose their sense of orientation whilst in the air. She was commended for being open about her mental health and speaking out about suffering abuse.  

Footballer Jen Beattie won the Helen Rollason Award, which is awarded to those who have shown “outstanding achievement in the face of adversity”. Beattie, a defender for Arsenal and Scotland, has opened up about her experience and raised awareness after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She continued to play professionally throughout her treatment and is now cancer free.  

Finally, Sam Barlow was awarded the Unsung Hero award. She is the founder of fitness group Fitmums and Friends, who nominated her. Based in Hull, she initially created the club to help women get active. More than a decade later, she now runs 11 adult and 4 junior groups. Since her husband died of cancer last year, she has also set up a fitness and support group for those going through bereavement.  

2022 brings more sporting excitement, with highlights including the Winter Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, the Women’s Euros and the men’s Football World Cup.  

You can watch the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0012vyb/bbc-sports-personality-of-the-year-2021