Lewis Hamilton wins Sports Personality of the Year on a triumphant night for Liverpool

Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2020. Hamilton was recognised for his achievements on the track, equalling Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles and winning a record 94 races, as well as his efforts to increase racial diversity within the sport and foster conversations about global racial inequality and environmentalism.

In a public vote, Hamilton – who was long considered the favourite – secured his second victory after having won the award in 2014. He was ahead of Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson in second, and jockey Hollie Doyle in third. Boxer Tyson Fury, cricketer Stuart Broad and snooker great Ronnie O’Sullivan were also on the shortlist.

After he won, Hamilton said: “I want to say congratulations to all the incredible nominees. I’m so proud of what they have achieved. I want to say thank you to everyone that has voted for me. I wasn’t expecting this knowing there’s so many great contenders.

“I want to say Merry Christmas to everyone – it’s been such an unusual year and I want to mention all the frontline workers and all the children round the world, I want you to try and stay positive through this difficult time, I’m sending you all positivity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

We can’t wait to see the fans again and winning this prize in Manchester is even sweeter

– Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp was named Coach of the Year, and Liverpool were named Team of the Year, after an impressive campaign that saw the team win the 2019-20 Premier League, ending their 30-year wait for a top-flight title. It was Liverpool’s 19th top division title and their first since 1989-90.

Klopp said: “My team deserve this, because they did an incredible job. It’s a mix of talent, character, desire and the power of the club which is a big one. That all comes together and it was a great moment when we became champions. We want to organise a big party when it’s allowed again, it could take a little while again but until then maybe we can win something else, we will see. We can’t wait to see the fans again and winning this prize in Manchester is even sweeter.”

Khabib Nurmagonedov was named World Sport Star of the Year. The Russian UFC lightweight champion extended a perfect professional record to 29 wins with a victory over Justin Gaethje in October. The victory came months after the death of his father, who was also his coach and mentor. Nurmagonedov, who announced his retirement straight after the victory, is considered by many to be the greatest MMA fighter of all time.

The 16-year-old diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix won the Young Sports Personality of the Year. This year, she won her first senior British title in the women’s 10m platform at the British National Diving Championships, and claimed her first solo international gold medal in the same event at the Fina Diving Grand Prix in Rostock in February.

Captain Sir Tom Moore was honoured with the Helen Rollason Award after raising more than £32 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday. Tobias Weller, a nine-year-old boy with cerebral palsy and autism who was inspired by Captain Sir Tom, was awarded the Young Unsung Hero award. He raised more than £150,000 for charity by walking the equivalent of two marathons on his street, despite being unable to stand or walk unaided.

Marcus Rashford picked up an Expert Panel Special Award after a campaign to raise awareness of child food poverty in the UK

Sgt Matt Ratana was posthumously named the Unsung Hero award winner. He was nominated by East Grinstead Rugby Club, where he was head coach and credited with leading a renaissance before he was killed on duty in September. The award was accepted by his widow, who said: “I want to thank everyone who voted for Matt, he was a special man, one of a kind who touched so many people’s lives. He lit up every room and every pitch with his presence, enthusiasm and smile. I’m honoured to be standing here to accept this award tonight. Matt is and always will be my hero and now his legacy will live on.”

Marcus Rashford picked up an Expert Panel Special Award after a campaign to raise awareness of child food poverty in the UK, which resulted in around 1.3 million children in England being able to claim free school meal vouchers in the summer holidays. Further campaigner led to a November policy change, with the announcement of more than £400 million to support poor children and their families in England.

Hamilton went into the SPOTY race as the favourite and, as he has so often in F1 this year, that pole position was converted into an easy win. Much though (as a snooker fan) I hoped for an O’Sullivan win, it’s hard to begrudge Hamilton this win after an impressive and hugely dominant 2020 season. He is now the statistically-greatest F1 driver in history, and he’s showing no sign of slowing down yet.

When I wrote my article on the shortlist announcement, I said that Fury and O’Sullivan were considered the only real rivals to Hamilton – Luke, in his infinite wisdom as Sports Editor, said I may have underestimated Liverpool and its fans. And, as the awards started rolling it, it looked to be Liverpool’s night. They claimed Team and Coach of the Year and, based on social media (with some Liverpool fans voting more than 20 times), it was Henderson’s to lose. It wasn’t a famous hat-trick, but I don’t think Liverpool fans will go away from the night too disappointed.

Sport is something that can unite us all

This was a hugely touching night throughout (aside from some of the bizarre music numbers, including a Rick Astley song and Celeste butchering ‘Smile’). We saw a VT on Rob Burrow, a rugby league player with motor neurone disease, and his friend Kevin Sinfield, who ran seven marathons in seven days to raise funds and awareness for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. A VT celebrated those who went above and beyond during the pandemic, including NHS workers and those who raised money for charity.

2020 was an unusual year for sport, and SPOTY chose the right way to recognise it. It acknowledged the achievements of some incredible sportspeople, and it shone a spotlight on the ordinary people who did extraordinary things. Sport is something that can unite us all – in 2020, that’s been more important than ever.