Tennis News: After winning the US Open this year, Emma Raducanu was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2021.
The British youngster astonished the world by becoming the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam at the US Open, followed by a fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon despite having never won a match on the regular WTA Tour.
Raducanu was ranked 19th in the world at the end of the year, after a spectacular ascent from 343rd at the start of 2021.
The 19-year-old finished ahead of second-placed diver Tom Daley and third-placed swimmer Adam Peaty.
According to Raducanu, who spoke to the BBC, “It’s an honour just to be among these nominees; to win would be incredible.
“I grew up watching Sports Personality of the Year, so I’m honoured to be among the incredible prior winners – and I’m thrilled for British tennis that we were able to win it again.
“All of the love I’ve gotten this year has been incredible, and the energy I felt playing in front of my home audience at Wimbledon this year was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.”
The other three nominees were Tyson Fury, Raheem Sterling, and Dame Sarah Story, with Sir Lewis Hamilton, who came so close to capturing a record eighth Formula One title earlier this month, being left off the list.
England earned the Team of the Year award for reaching the Euro 2020 final, their first major final appearance since the 1966 World Cup, and manager Gareth Southgate was named Coach of the Year.
Southgate complimented his backroom staff, including assistant manager Steve Holland, who told the BBC: “Football management is now a really difficult task. I’m blessed to work with wonderful folks who make my life easier.”
Simone Biles, a four-time Olympic gymnastics champion, was selected as the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award this year.
The 24-year-old has dominated her sport since 2011 but was forced to retire from five finals in Tokyo due to ‘twisties,’ a mental impediment.
Biles received praise from her peers in a variety of sports for speaking up about her mental health issues.
She won a bronze medal on the balancing beam and a silver medal in the women’s team event.
Jennifer Beattie, a defender for Scotland and Arsenal Women, received the Helen Rollason Award for fostering breast cancer awareness.
She was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 29 in October 2020, although she continued to play for club and nation.
Sky Brown, a skateboarder, was named Young Sports Personality of the Year.
When she won bronze in the women’s park event in Tokyo last summer, the 13-year-old became Britain’s youngest Olympic medalist.
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