Hamilton
wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year
Send a link to a friend
[December 15, 2014]
LONDON (Reuters) - Double Formula
One world champion Lewis Hamilton, who won 11 grands prix for Mercedes
in 2014, was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year against the odds
on Sunday.
|
The award is widely regarded as Britain's most prestigious
cross-sports accolade.
"I am so speechless," said the 29-year-old after a British public
vote that overturned the betting form, with bookmakers having golfer
Rory McIlroy as their clear favorite.
"I really was not expecting it. Dude, you had such an amazing year,"
he told McIlroy at the ceremony in Glasgow.
"Never in a million years did I think I would be up here standing
with the greats," added Hamilton, who had walked the pre-event red
carpet with his bulldog Roscoe.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2014/Dec/15/images/ads/current/pest_control_bch_092414.png) McIlroy, who won two majors in 2014 and helped Europe retain the
Ryder Cup, was a forlorn-looking runner-up with European 10,000
meters champion Jo Pavey third.
Bookmakers William Hill had listed the Northern Irishman at 2/5
earlier on Sunday with Hamilton, who was runner-up for the award in
2007 and again when he won his first title with McLaren in 2008, the
7/4 second favorite.
Hamilton is the fifth racing driver to win the award in 61 years,
with champions Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell winning it twice after
Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart before them.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
The Team of the Year award went to England's World Cup- winning
women's rugby players while Europe's triumphant Ryder Cup captain
Paul McGinley was coach of the year.
Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo took the overseas personality
of the year prize.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Mark Meadows)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2014/Dec/15/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png) |