Sports Personality of the Year: Rory McIlroy
Name: Rory McIlroy
Sport: Golf
Key achievement: The Northern Irishman achieved golf immortality in April by completing the Grand Slam of his career with his first Masters title at Augusta National.
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He then played a key role in Europe’s first Ryder Cup victory in the United States since 2012, contributing three and a half points to his team’s victory.
He also delighted his home crowd by winning the Irish Open for the second time, with further success at the Players Championship and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, before capping a stellar year with his seventh Race to Dubai title.
Team of the Year: European Ryder Cup Team
Name: European Ryder Cup Team
Sport: Golf
Key achievement: Captain Luke Donald led the Europeans to their first victory on American soil since 2012 with a 15-13 victory in New York.
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Against a volatile crowd at Bethpage Black, Europe claimed just its fifth victory in the United States since the tournament’s inception in 1927.
Coach of the Year – Sarina Wiegman
Name: Sarina Wiegman
Sport: American football
Key achievement: The Dutchwoman guided England to successive Euro titles with victory against Spain in the Euro 2025 final in July.
The victory meant the Lionesses became the first England team (women or men) to win a major trophy on foreign soil.
England’s success led to Wiegman being named women’s coach of the year at the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards, while she also won the women’s coach award at the FIFA Best Awards for a record fifth time.
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World Sports Star of the Year: Armand Duplantis
(Press media)
Name: Armand Duplantis
Sport: Athletics
Key achievement: Swede Duplantis once again outclassed his rivals to capture his third gold at the World Pole Vault Championships in 2025.
In doing so, he set another world record of 6.30m, the fourth this year alone, and the 14th of his remarkable career.
He also retained his world indoor title, meaning he has won eight consecutive golds at major world competitions, and won all 16 of his events to become the first men’s pole vaulter in modern history to go undefeated for two consecutive years.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Thierry Henry
Name: Henry Thierry
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Sport: American football
Key achievement: Former Arsenal and France striker Henry, who retired in 2014, is considered one of the greatest players to ever play in the Premier League.
During his time as a Gunner, Henry became the club’s record goalscorer with 228 goals in 377 games and won three FA Cups and two Premier League titles.
In international football, the 48-year-old won the World Cup on home soil in 1998 and was an integral part of the French team that won the Euro in 2000.
Young Sports Personality of the Year: Michelle Agyemang
Name: Michelle Agyemang
Sport: American football
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Key achievement: Just three months after his international debut, Agyemang came off the bench to score crucial late equalizers in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals in England’s run to Euro 2025 glory.
Agyemang, on loan at Brighton from Arsenal, was named young player of the tournament and was subsequently awarded the Golden Girl trophy, which is awarded to the best young player in Europe.
Helen Rollason Award – Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe
Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe received their award from John Bishop and Robbie Fowler (PA Media)
On 29 July 2024, three girls – Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Bebe King, six – died during an attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop in Southport.
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In April this year, Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe, Alice and Elsie’s parents, ran the London Marathon in her memory.
Since then, Sergio has run marathons in Berlin, Chicago and New York while aiming to complete all six World Marathon Majors to raise funds for a foundation created in his daughter’s name.