Mo Farah wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year
Mo Farah’s naming as BBC Sports Personality of the Year last night after years of near misses was fittingly quirky.
The 34-year-old long distance runner appeared genuinely stunned at winning the award after being previously overlooked in Olympic years when he won two gold medals both times.
But before Farah had a chance to speak from London about his drought-breaking triumph, the BBC’S video link dropped out seconds after the athlete was presented with the award by daughter Rhianna.
Farah won the title ahead of runner-up Jonathan Rea, with the Northern Irishman having won a historic third successive World Superbike championship this year. Two-time Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock finished third.
Farah achieved the gong on the back of winning his third successive world 10,000m gold medal in London in August, despite almost falling twice late in the race.
He becomes the first longdistance runner to win the BBC award since Paula Radcliffe in 2002.
Known for his distinctive “Mobot” winner’s celebration, Farah last year became only the second man in history to retain the 5,000 m and 10,000m Olympic titles.
The technical glitch during last night’s ceremony left former American sprinter Michael Johnson to sing Farah’s praises.
“It’s well deserved,” Johnson said. “This year he came into his home championships, his last race on the track, and still delivered.
“Over the years he’s dominated.”
Retired Olympic heptathlon gold medallist Jessica Ennishill received the Lifetime Achievement award, while the England women’s cricket side were named Team of the Year.
The Helen Rollason award for “outstanding achievement in the face of adversity” was posthumously awarded to six-year-old Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery, who died of cancer in July.
Tennis star Roger Federer was named overseas sports personality of the year for a record fourth time.