Cyclist Bradley Wiggins crowned Sports Personality of the Year after historic victory in Tour de France and stunning Olympic gold
- Wiggins presented award by Duchess of Cambridge in her first public appearance since falling ill
- Heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis in second, tennis star Andy Murray third
- London 2012 chairman Lord Sebastian Coe wins Lifetime Achievement award
- Swimmer Josef Craig, 15, crowned Young Sports Personality of the Year
- Won London 2012 gold after smashing world record in 400m freestyle S7
- Martine Wright wins Helen Rollason Award for 'achievement in adversity'
- Lost both legs in 7/7 bombings, but went on to compete in sitting volleyball
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Cyclist Bradley Wiggins was crowned Sports Personality of the Year tonight in recognition of his historic triumph in the Tour de France and stunning gold in the Olympics time trial.
The 32-year-old was presented the award at a star-studded ceremony by the Duchess of Cambridge who made her first public appearance since falling ill with severe morning sickness.
Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis was runner-up while U.S. tennis champion and London 2012 gold medallist Andy Murray came third in the public vote.
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An extraordinary 2012: Bradley Wiggins kisses his trophy after being named Sports Personality of the Year in recognition of his victories in the Tour de France and Olympics time trial
In good company: Wiggins accepts his award from the duchess in front of an audience of sports stars and celebrities at the London ExCeL centre
Thanked those who voted for him: The 32-year-old delivers his winner's speech as a smiling duchess looks on
By Royal appointment: The award was announced by England footballer David Beckham (left) before being handed to him by the duchess
VIDEO: Wiggins wins again: Hero Bradley receives his award from Kate...
The duchess also handed the Lifetime Achievement Award to London 2012 chairman Lord Coe.
The prize recognises his remarkable career as an athlete and his huge contribution to sport in the UK, including the vital role he played in the success of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Lord Coe became chairman of the board for the London 2012 bid team in 2004 and was pivotal in transforming the city's campaign to host the Games, it said.
His final speech that secured London as the hosts is remembered as a truly inspirational moment, focusing on the need to engage young people in sport to create the next generation of champions.
Olympics poster girl: The Duchess with runner-up Jessica Ennis, who was recognised for her gold-winning performance in the heptathlon at London 2012
Smashing: Third-placed Andy Murray seen on videolink accepting his award from boxer Lennox Lewis (left) in recognition of his U.S. open win and Olympic gold medal
Legend: The duchess also presented London 2012 chairman Lord Coe with the Lifetime Achievement Award
Keen to pay tribute to nation's sportsmen and women: The Duchess of Cambridge chats to Ennis backstage after the ceremony
Britain's top sport stars gathered to celebrate their greatest-ever year at the Excel Arena in London.
Olympic and Paralympic heroes dominated this year's shortlist, with golfer Rory McIlroy the only one of the 12 nominees not to have won medals at London 2012 this summer.
Cyclist Bradley Wiggins, who was announced the winner by David Beckham, was the bookmakers' odds-on favourite after his historic triumph in the Tour de France and gold in the Olympics time trial, followed by heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis.
Mo Farah, double gold medallist in the 5,000 metres and 10,000m, had been ranked third-favourite with the bookies.
King of the track: Double gold medallist Mo Farah talks to Gary Lineker about his Olympic success in the 5,000m and 10,000m
Making history: Nicola Adams (right) became the first woman to win an Olympic boxing Gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Blazing entrance: Four-time Olympic gold medal sailor Ben Ainslie, who is on the award shortlist, walks on stage carrying a flare
Blinding performance: Ainslie took gold in the Olympics, World Cup and World Championships and was also named ISAF World Sailor of the Year
Hopeful: Heptathlon gold medallist Jessica Ennis (right) speaks to presenter Sue Barker on stage about her achievements at London 2012
But he was pipped to the podium by Andy Murray, who became the first British man to win a grand slam singles title for 76 years when he triumphed in the US Open and won an Olympic gold.
The list of nominees had been extended from 10 to 12 this year to reflect the incredible year for British sport.
The first award of the night went to swimmer Josef Craig, 15, who was crowned Young Sports Personality of the Year.
Josef, who has cerebral palsy, was the youngest Paralympic gold medallist at London 2012, after smashing his own world record in the 400m freestyle S7 final.
Getting it underway: Presenters (l-r) Clare Balding, Gary Lineker and Sue Barker host the awards ceremony
Prince of the pool: Swimmer Josef Craig (second left) is named young Sports Personality of the Year after becoming the youngest Paralympic gold medallist at London 2012
Swimming star: Clare Balding (left) chats with Ellie Simmonds, who is on the shortlist after winning two Paralympic golds, one silver and a bronze in the pool
'I would just like say big thanks to everyone involved in me getting my gold,' the South Shields teenager said.
'It was a big shock for me. I don't expect it at all. That was just an amazing part of my life.'
Martine Wright, who lost her legs in the London bombings on July 7, 2005, and competed in the sitting volleyball at the 2012 Paralympics, won the Helen Rollason Award.
This is presented in memory of the BBC presenter who died in 1999 at the age of 43 after suffering from cancer, and is given for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.
Wright said: 'I am absolutely honoured to be here. I count myself lucky to have survived that awful day, and that I’ve made an incredible journey, the last seven years.'
Celebrating achievements: Katherine Grainger (centre left) on stage with Clare Balding (centre right) and the Team GB Rowers during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards
Poignant: Martine Wright (centre), winner of the Helen Rollason award for 'outstanding achievement in the face of adversity, with PC Elizabeth Kenworthy MBE who saved her life in the July 7 bombings
Treasured memories: Gary Lineker (right) talks to Manchester City stars Sergio Aguero (left) and Vincent Kompany about the club's Premier League triumph, which was won with virtually the last kick of the season
In contention: Rower Katherine Grainger, who won gold in the double sculls, on stage with Clare Balding
Multiple champion: Track cyclist Sarah Storey (left), who won four golds at the 2012 Paralympic Games, recalls her success with Sue Barker
She thanked the emergency services and medical staff who did so much. 'And I will never forget the 52 people that sadly lost their lives, so this is definitely for them as well.'
Odds on Ennis taking the award had been slashed from 9/1 to 4/1 in the 48 hours before the ceremony, putting her close behind Wiggins, who was odds-on to win.
Speaking before the ceremony, William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said: 'There is no doubt that momentum has swung away from Bradley and Jess is steaming up on the outside. The only question is has she left her run too late?'
In the running: Olympic heptathlon gold medallist Jessica Ennis arrives for the Sports Personality of the year awards hoping to claim another victory
Second favourite: Bookmakers have taken a late flurry of bets on Ennis (pictured with her fiance Andy Hill) taking the title
Black and gold: Cyclist Victoria Pendleton took the keirin title and won silver in the sprint at London 2012
Girl power: Pendleton was joined at the ceremony by Jade Jones (right) who won gold in the taekwondo
David Weir, the wheelchair athlete who won four golds in London, and four-time Paralympic swimming champion Ellie Simmonds had led the Paralympians with the bookies.
The strength of competition meant the only two British women to win double gold medals at the Olympics - cyclist Laura Trott and dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin - did not make the shortlist.
Fellow Olympians Greg Rutherford, Victoria Pendleton, and Alistair Brownlee, along with Europe's Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter, also missed out.
Doing the Mobot! Double Olympic gold medal distance runner Mo Farah strikes his trademark pose with wife Tania and step-daughter Rihanna
Red carpet treatment: Presenter Helen Skelton (left), England rugby captain Chris Robshaw and his girlfriend Camilla Kerslake (right) arrive for the Sports Personality of the Year Awards at London's ExCeL arena
The nominees were chosen by an expert panel including national newspaper sports editors and three former award nominees, Sir Steve Redgrave, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Denise Lewis.
The panel also selected the winners of the coach of the year, team of the year and overseas personality.
It was announced earlier in the day that the Duchess of Cambridge would be attending the event in the first sign that she is slowly recovering from the acute sickness that has plagued her first few weeks of pregnancy.
Golden girls: Former heptathlon champion Denise Lewis (left), who has twice been runner-up in the Sports Personality of the Year awards, and Amy Williams, who won gold in the skeleton at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Ready for a great night: Former Olympic swimmer-turned-commentator Karen Pickering
All smiles: Weightlifter Zoe Smith (left), who broke the British clean and jerk record at London 2012, and 1972 pentathlon gold medallist Dame Mary Peters (right)
Proud: Paralympian Hannah Cockroft poses with the gold medals she won in the T34 100m and 200m in London
Anticipation: Marathon runner Paula Radcliffe (left), who was forced to pull out of London 2012 with a foot injury, smiles for the cameras, while Bronze medal gymnast Beth Tweddle arrives with boyfriend Steven Cryer (right)
She was only at the event for around 45 minutes, but sources have told MailOnline she was keen to pay tribute to the nation's sportsmen and women in what has been an incredible year.
Husband Prince William was not able to attend as he is back at work as an RAF search and rescue pilot on Anglesey.
A St James's Palace spokesman said: 'The Duchess of Cambridge will tonight attend the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year Awards at the ExCeL London, where Her Royal Highness will present the Lifetime Achievement and the main Sports Personality of the Year Awards.
Athlete Christine Ohuruogu (left), who won silver in the 400m and swimmer Rebecca Adlington, who claimed two bronze medals in the 400m and 800m
Cyclist Joanna Rowsell (left), who won gold in the team pursuit at London 2012, and rower Katherine Grainger (right), who has made it onto the shortlist after winning gold in the double sculls
Queen of the pool: Ellie Simmonds won two golds, a silver and bronze at the 2012 Paralympics
Diving bronze medallist Tom Daley (left) and ice skater Jane Torvill, who won gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics
On the shortlist: Sailor Ben Ainslie (left) has a chance of taking the title after winning his fourth Olympic gold medal in London, while former cricket umpire Dickie Bird (right) strikes a familiar pose
'The Duchess will attend the event in response to a longstanding invitation from the BBC.'
Along with her husband and brother in law Prince Harry, Kate was a Team GB Ambassador at the Olympics this summer.
The main award will be chosen by public vote and announced at the Sports Personality of the Year show.
Shortlist (in alphabetical order): Nicola Adams (Olympic boxing), Ben Ainslie (Olympic sailing), Jessica Ennis (Olympic heptathlon), Mo Farah (Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m), Katherine Grainger (Olympic rowing), Sir Chris Hoy (Olympic cycling), Rory McIlroy (world number one golfer and USPGA champion), (Andy Murray, Olympic tennis and US Open champion), Ellie Simmonds (Paralympic swimming), Sarah Storey (Paralympic cycling), David Weir (Paralympic wheelchair athlete), Bradley Wiggins (Olympic cycling and Tour de France winner).
The ceremony was shown live on BBC1 from 7.30pm.
THE SHORTLIST... AND WHAT THEY WON IN 2012
Nicola Adams - Olympic gold winner and placed second at the World Championships
Ben Ainslie - Took gold in the Olympics, World Cup and World Championships. Also named ISAF World Sailor of the Year
Jessica Ennis - Silver at the World Indoor Championships, gold in the Olympic heptathlon
Mo Farah - Double Olympic gold medal winner
Katherine Grainger - gold medal in the Olympic double sculls, as well as winning all three World Cups
Sir Chris Hoy - Gold in the World Cup, World Championships and the London Games
Rory McIlroy - Both money list titles, Honda Classic, PGA Championship, Deutsche Bank Championship, DP World Tour Championship, Ryder Cup
Andy Murray - Finally bagged his first Slam, the US Open, as well as Olympic gold and a silver in the doubles.
Ellie Simmonds - Double Paralympic gold, as well as a silver and a bronze
Sarah Storey - quadruple gold at the 2012 Paralympics and a double gold at the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships
David Weir - Four Paralympic gold medals and a gold in the European Athletics Championships
Bradley Wiggins - Tour de France champion and Olympic road race winner
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2249050/Sports-Personality-Year-Stars-arrive-awards-bookies-late-flurry-bets-Olympic-heptathlon-gold-medallist-Jessica-Ennis-taking-title.html#ixzz2FGVjNePb
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