Mary Earps crowned sports personality of the year at BBC's 70th annual awards ceremony
Guardiola and Man City took the Coach and Team of the Year after their treble winning second Credit: Tom Dulat/UEFA/Getty Images
The BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023 ceremony celebrated a host of remarkable achievements in sports, with Mary Earps clinching the prestigious Sports Personality of the Year title.
The award ceremony, which marked its 70th anniversary, recognised exceptional talents across various categories.
Mary Earps, recognized for her outstanding contributions in football, expressed her joy and gratitude: “It feels pretty great off the back of a couple of really big years and 2023 has been wild in ways I couldn’t expect. I’m really, really grateful," said Earps.
She attributed her success to her teammates both with the Lionesses and Manchester United, emphasizing the importance of team effort in her individual achievements: "While individual accolades are great, they only come after team success. This is their trophy just as much as mine.”
Young Sports Personality of the Year was awarded to snowboarder Mia Brookes, who made history as Britain's youngest and first world champion in slopestyle snowboarding. Brookes achieved this remarkable feat in February, just a month after turning 16.
The Lifetime Achievement award was bestowed upon Sir Kenny Dalglish, recognizing his long-standing contributions to sports. Meanwhile, the Unsung Hero award went to Des Smith, a dedicated volunteer and the driving force behind Sheffield Caribbean Sports Club since 1986. The club, renowned for being a safe haven for young people, offers a range of sports including cricket, football, netball, and hockey.
Former javelin world champion Fatima Whitbread received the Helen Rollason Award, an accolade that honors outstanding achievement in the face of adversity. Whitbread, who spent her early years in children's homes, rose to prominence in athletics, setting world records and winning gold in world and European championships.
Manchester City was named Team of the Year, with their head coach Pep Guardiola winning Coach of the Year. Guardiola led the team to an impressive Treble in the 2022-23 season, securing the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup titles.
Since his appointment in 2016, Guardiola has steered Manchester City to five top-flight titles, solidifying his status as one of the most successful coaches in the sport.
Erling Haaland was honored as the World Sport Star, recognizing his exceptional performances and contributions to football on a global stage.
The winners in full:
