Emma Raducanu wins Sports Personality of the Year award to cap stellar 2021

The 19-year-old tennis star beat Tom Daley and Adam Peaty to the 2021 award following her remarkable US Open triumph

Emma Raducanu has been voted 2021’s Sports Personality of the Year in recognition of the 19-year-old’s stunning victory at the US Open in September.

Raducanu became Britain’s first female singles Grand Slam champion for 44 years when she defeated Leylah Fernandez in a thrilling final in New York.

Tom Daley finished second with Adam Peaty in third. Tyson Fury, Dame Sarah Storey and Raheem Sterling were also nominated on the six-person shortlist. Raducanu becomes the first woman to win the award since Zara Phillips in 2006.

“It was such an honour to be named amongst these nominees,” said Raducanu, who was unable to be at the ceremony in Manchester after she tested positive for Covid-19.

“To win is pretty amazing to me. I’m really happy with this as I watched Sports Personality of the Year growing up, but I’m really humbled to be able to join the past winners. I’m really happy as well for British tennis that we were able to win this award again. Thank you to all the voters and fans for their support this year - it’s been insane.”

Raducanu rose to prominence during her run to the fourth round of Wimbledon in July before she had to withdraw from her Centre Court match due to breathing difficulties.

But the teenager learned from the experience and didn’t drop a single set on the way to becoming the first qualifier to reach a Grand Slam final at the US Open, where her dramatic victory over Fernandez captured the attention of the country.

England’s men’s football team won the Team of the Year prize following their sensational run to the Euro 2020 final, with manager Gareth Southgate completing a double as he picked up Coach of the Year.

Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore was awarded the World Sports Star honour after she became the first woman to win the Grand National.

US gymnast Simone Biles won the Lifetime Achievement award while 13-year-old skateboarder Sky Brown won Young Sports Personality of the Year after she became Britain’s youngest Olympic medallist in Tokyo.

Arsenal and Scotland defender Jen Beattie received the Helen Rollason Award - which recognises inspirational achievement in the face of adversity - for her work in driving awareness of the importance of breast cancer screenings following her diagnosis last year.