Rory McIlroy, winner of two major titles in 2014, was this afternoon announced by Sir Michael Parkinson, the President of the Sports Journalists’ Association, as the 65th winner of the SJA’s Sportsman of the Year award.
Jo Pavey, the European 10,000 metres champion at the age of 40, was voted by the SJA’s members as their Sportswoman of the Year. And the England women’s rugby team, winners of the World Cup this year for the first time, were named as the SJA’s Team of the Year, seeing off a strong challenge from McIlroy and his Ryder Cup-winning European team mates.
The awards were announced at a gala ceremony in central London, sponsored by The National Lottery, and attended by nearly 400 celebrity guests from sport, politics and the media.
The National Lottery is celebrating 20 years of providing medal-winning funding – in total, 637 Olympic and Paralympic medals have been won by Lottery-backed British competitors since 1994.
The National Lottery made its own Spirit of Sport Award to a winner of two Olympic gold medals,Dame Kelly Holmes, for her work since retiring from the track with her charitable foundation. Sir Michael Parkinson made a special presentation toSir Chris Hoyto mark the Scottish cyclist’s career achievements, including six Olympic golds and 11 world titles.
The SJA’s British Sports Awards are determined by votes by the Association’s members. McIlroy finished ahead of F1 world championLewis Hamiltonand Commonwealth and European long jump gold medal-winnerGreg Rutherford in the ballot.
Pavey finished ahead of skeleton bob Winter Olympic gold medallist Lizzy Yarnoldand teenaged gymnastClaudia Fragapane. The England rugby team beat challenges from the European Ryder Cup team and the world championship-winning Great Britain rowing men’s eight crew.
To see a full list of winners at the SJA British Sports Awards, sponsored by The National Lottery,click here.
