The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Wiggo plays it for laughs as he claims personality prize
TOUR DE France and Olympic cycling hero Bradley Wiggins was crowned BBC Sports Personality of theYear last night.
The 32-year-old was presented with the trophy by the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge, who was making her first public appearance since being treated in hospital for severe morning sickness.
Wiggins won the public vote after becoming the first Briton to win the Tour de France, cycling’s ultimate prize, in July, followed days later by the Olympic Time Trial on the streets of Surrey.
Team GB Heptathlon gold medal-winner Jessica Ennis was second, with US Open tennis winner and Olympic gold medallist Andy Murray third.
Wiggins had earlier joked on stage with Sue Barker and gently teased co-hostGary Lineker, suggesting he was wearing a lot of make-up.
Accepting the award he got more laughs for joking about his grandmother rigging the vote.
He said: “I’m not going to swear tonight so I am just going to say ‘thank you’ to everyone that picked the phone up and voted.
“We have had all that jungle stuff (I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!) and X Factor the last couple of weeks, so for people in half an hour to pick up and pay £1.50 to vote, thank you very much.
“And my nan: the cheque is in the post because you pressed redial God-knows how many times.”
The Duchess of Cambridge, who did not speak while presenting the main award and a lifetime achievement award to Olympics chairman Lord Coe, looked on in a dark green dress as Wiggins told his children Ben and Bella “you can go to bed now”.
He praised his supporters and Team Sky colleagues who helped him win theTour De France before saluting the other Olympians.
The first award of the night went to swimmer Josef Craig (15), who was crowned Young Sports Personality of theYear.
Josef, who has cerebral palsy, was crowned the youngest Paralympic gold medallist at London 2012, after smashing his own world record in the 400m freestyle S7 final.
“I would just like say big thanks to everyone involved in me getting my gold,” the South Shields teenager said.
Martine Wright, who lost her legs in the London bombings on July 7, 2005, andcompeted in the sitting volleyball at the 2012 Paralympics, won the HelenRollason Award.
Wright said: “I am absolutely honoured to be here. I count myself lucky to have survived that awful day, and that I’ve made an incredible journey, the last seven years.”
TheTeam of theYear award went toTeam GB and Paralympics GB for theirsuccesses in the Games during the summer.
Coach of the Year went to Dave Brailsford, who trains Wiggins.
He said: “It’s a huge privilege to get this award, this year of all years, with such a fantastic summer of sport.”
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who retained his Olympic gold medals in the 100mand 200m before steering his nation home to set a new world record to win the 4x100m, was named Overseas Sports ~Personality of theYear.
Accepting his trophy via videolink, he praised the London games and thanked his fans.
“It is an honour to get this award. I will keep staying focused to make everybody and my fans and myself proud.”