Sport

Sheffield graduate claims third in Sports Personality

By Matt Duncan
Published: 15/12/2009

University of Sheffield graduate Jessica Ennis claimed third place at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards on Sunday.

Ennis became World Heptathlon Champion in the summer and has since been touted as one of the faces of London 2012.

Ennis was beaten into third by footballer Ryan Giggs and Formula One World Champion Jenson Button who claimed first and second respectively.

Psychology graduate Ennis was greeted by a huge cheer as she made her way to the stage.

“Just to be nominated was such a shock and a nice feeling to be here in Sheffield and up on stage was brilliant.

“You never really expect to win anything on the night and be up on that stage in front of all those people.

Ennis thought her career may have been over 18 months ago after suffering a serious energy but she bounced back from the pain of missing the Beijing Olympics to claim her gold medal in Berlin.

“I remember watching the awards ceremony last year at home and seeing all the amazing performances from the Olympics and feeling disappointed that I wasn’t a part of it.

“To go from that to being a massive part of this year is such a change around that it is surreal really.”

Ennis also had a message for all the student athletes at the University hoping to follow in her footsteps.

“Sheffield is a great city with great facilities; you are at an amazing University so make the most of it and achieve your goals.

Giggs started the evening as an outsider and the Manchester United midfielder appeared to be genuinely shocked to win the prestigious award.

“This is a shock, a big shock. I would like to thank everyone who voted for me, this is unbelievable, this is a shock.

“I grew up watching this T.V. programme and to see the people who have won it and be up there is incredible.”

Runner up Button was the pre event favourite and he said that he was disappointed to miss out on the top prize.

“It is a tough one because it is nice to be recognised, to come second at Sports Personality is good and it is good to see that Formula One is recognised as being up there with other sports.

“However, as any sportsman would say it is disappointing to come second, I came here to hopefully win, I didn’t, but the person I lost out to I respect very much, so well done to him.”

Legendary golfer Seve Ballesteros was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. The five time major winner has recently been fighting for his health after suffering a brain tumour last year and having major surgery.

The Overseas Sports Personality of the Year was awarded to Usain Bolt. The Jamaican sprinter continued in 2009 where he left off the year before.

He won the 100m, 200m and was part of the triumphant 4x100m team at the World Championships in Berlin. In doing so he lowered the world record time in both of the individual events. The sprinter said: “I want to be a legend in the sport.”

Tom Daley picked up the Young Sports Personality award. The 15 year old from Plymouth claimed the award for the second time in three years.

He became Britain’s youngest ever World Champion in any sport when he won the 10m platform at the World Diving Championships in Rome.

“It is the second time that I have won this award and you never get sick of it honestly, it is such an amazing honour to get this award and it is going to give me a big boost next year to go and prove that I am worthy of this trophy.”

Fabio Capello won the Coach of the Year award after taking England to the World Cup in South Africa.

Since he has been in charge of the Three Lions, they have gone from missing out on Euro 2008 to being amongst the favourites to triumph next summer.

The Helen Rollason Award for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity went to Major Phil Packer.

The former soldier was injured in the line of duty in Iraq and was told that he would never walk again. However, this year he has completed the London Marathon on crutches and climbed the sheer rock face of El Capitan in the USA.

Next year he is aiming to complete the 26 mile race in 26 hours, raising money for 26 charities along the way.

“It’s overwhelming. To walk onto the stage and see all those past winners, many of who are just remarkable men and women and then be presented the award by Steve Redgrave I think tops off what couldn’t be a more humbling evening.”

Jessica Ennis talks to Forge at Sports Personality of the Year

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