BBC Sports Personality Of The Year: Hollie Doyle third behind Lewis Hamilton

It is a huge achievement for the record-breaking Doyle to go so close in the coveted prize from a shortlist of six from the world of sport. Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson finished runner-up.

The racing industry’s campaign in getting behind Doyle’s bid helped raise her profile with the general public for an award that has only gone to racing once, when Sir Anthony McCoy won in 2010. Her third matches that achieved by Frankie Dettori in 1996.

It has been a remarkable 12 months for the 24-year-old, who broke her own best for the most winners in a calendar year by a female jockey before enjoying a Champions Day double at Ascot – including her first Group One aboard Glen Shiel in the British Champions Sprint.

Earlier in the campaign Doyle claimed her first Royal Ascot success on Scarlet Dragon and rode fives winners on a card at Windsor in August. She has since taken part at the Breeders’ Cup in America and became the first female to ride a winner in the Longines International Jockeys Championship in Hong Kong a couple of weeks ago.

Doyle’s outstanding achievements had already been recognised with several awards – as the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year, the Sports Journalists’ Association Sportswoman of the Year and Flat Jockey of the Year at the HWPA Derby Awards.

Hamilton said on receiving the award: “Firstly I want to say congratulations to all the incredible nominees.

“I’m so proud of what they have achieved this year. I want to say thank you to everyone who has called in and voted for me. I really wasn’t expecting this knowing that there were so many great competitors. They’re all winners.

“I really want to send a Merry Christmas to everyone. I know it’s been such an unusual year but all the frontline workers, all the children around the world, please try and stay positive at this difficult time. I’m sending everyone positivity and again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

“I will continue to do my part in representing the country in the best way I can.

“Everyone out there go out and follow your dreams. All the kids, never give up and continue to believe in yourself, because you have what it takes to be great.”

Marcus Rashford’s incredible efforts off the pitch were recognised with a special award.

The England and Manchester United footballer led a successful campaign to extend the provision of free school meals for vulnerable children during the spring lockdown, and continues to work on projects to tackle child hunger.

Henderson’s Liverpool side were chosen as the Team of the Year after they ended a 30-year wait for a league title, while Reds manager Jurgen Klopp was recognised as Coach of the Year.

The Young Sports Personality of the Year for 2020 was 16-year-old diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, while the Overseas Sports Personality of the Year prize was given to mixed martial arts star Khabib Nurmagomedov.

He claimed his 29th professional win – without a single defeat – over Justin Gaethje in October.

Captain Sir Tom Moore was chosen as the winner of the Helen Rollason Award for his phenomenal fundraising efforts during the first lockdown in the spring.

Captain Tom, who celebrated his 100th birthday this year, raised £38.9million for the NHS while walking laps of his garden. He was knighted in the summer.

His efforts were an inspiration to the country in a dark period, and to no-one more than nine-year-old Tobias Weller, who received the very first Captain Tom Young Unsung Hero of the Year award.

Tobias, who suffers from cerebral palsy, completed the length of a marathon during lockdown with the aid of his walker. Tobias also began a new ‘Tobiathon’ challenge to run the same distance using a race runner. He raised over £150,000 for Sheffield Children’s Hospital and the Pace school.

The Unsung Hero award was given posthumously to Sergeant Matiu Ratana, who was shot dead on police duty earlier this year. Ratana, a keen rugby player and coach, served as a sergeant in the Met for almost 30 years. His award was collected by his partner Su Bushby, in recognition of the voluntary work he did at East Grinstead rugby club.

Full list of 2020 winners

• Sports Personality of the Year: Lewis Hamilton
• Panel Special Award: Marcus Rashford
• Team of the Year: Liverpool
• Coach of the Year: Jurgen Klopp
• Helen Rollason Award: Captain Sir Tom Moore
• Captain Tom Young Unsung Hero: Tobias Weller
• Unsung Hero: Sergeant Matiu Ratana
• World Sport Star of the Year: Khabib Nurmagomedov
• Young Sports Personality of the Year: Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix

Previous winners of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year

1954 Sir Chris Chataway

1955 Gordon Pirie

1956 Jim Laker

1957 Dai Rees

1958 Ian Black

1959 John Surtees

1960 David Broome

1961 Sir Stirling Moss

1962 Anita Lonsbrough

1963 Dorothy Hyman

1964 Mary Rand

1965 Tommy Simpson

1966 Bobby Moore

1967 Sir Henry Cooper

1968 David Hemery

1969 Ann Jones

1970 Sir Henry Cooper

1971 HRH Princess Anne

1972 Dame Mary Peters

1973 Sir Jackie Stewart

1974 Sir Brendan Foster

1975 David Steele

1976 John Curry

1977 Virginia Wade

1978 Steve Ovett

1979 Lord Sebastian Coe

1980 Robin Cousins

1981 Sir Ian Botham

1982 Daley Thompson

1983 Steve Cram

1984 Torvill and Dean

1985 Barry McGuigan

1986 Nigel Mansell

1987 Fatima Whitbread

1988 Steve Davis

1989 Sir Nick Faldo

1990 Paul Gascoigne

1991 Liz McColgan

1992 Nigel Mansell

1993 Linford Christie

1994 Damon Hill

1995 Jonathan Edwards

1996 Damon Hill

1997 Greg Rusedski

1998 Michael Owen

1999 Lennox Lewis

2000 Sir Steve Redgrave

2001 David Beckham

2002 Paula Radcliffe

2003 Jonny Wilkinson

2004 Dame Kelly Holmes

2005 Andrew Flintoff

2006 Zara Phillips

2007 Joe Calzaghe

2008 Sir Chris Hoy

2009 Ryan Giggs

2010 AP McCoy

2011 Mark Cavendish

2012 Sir Bradley Wiggins

2013 Sir Andy Murray

2014 Lewis Hamilton

2015 Sir Andy Murray

2016 Sir Andy Murray

2017 Sir Mo Farah

2018 Geraint Thomas

2019 Ben Stokes