Hodgkinson stormed clear to victory in the final to finally clinch a global gold medal, having won silver at the Tokyo Games three years earlier and twice won silver at the World Athletics Championships.

The 22-year-old came out on top of a public vote in a six-athlete shortlist that contained serial Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey, Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham, England’s record Test run scorer Joe Root, Olympic triathlon gold medallist Alex Yee and darts sensation Luke Littler – who was presented with the Young Sports Personality of the Year prize.

Luke Litter came second in the main award voting but won the award for Young Sports Personality of the Year after a year that saw him become the youngest finalist in the history of the World Darts Championship. He also won the Grand Slam of Darts, the Premier League and World Series Finals.

Speaking as he received his award, he said: “It just goes to show how well I have done this year.

“Not only for myself, but I have changed the sport of darts.

“I know the amount of academies that have been brought up in different locations, how big the sport has got.

“Tickets selling out with the Ally Pally in hours and the Premier league selling out – it just goes to show how much I have changed it.”

Sarah Storey has criticised para cycling’s governing body, the UCI, for their running of the sport over the past two decades, believing they have failed to meaningfully improve coverage and visibility.

Storey is the most decorated British Paralympian in history and added an eye-watering 18th and 19th Paralympic golds to her collection in Paris in September by winning both the time trial and road race, before backing that up by winning both events again at the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships later that month.

Her remarkable achievements earned the 47-year-old a place on the six-strong shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the year alongside triathlete Alex Yee, darts star Luke Littler, cricketer Joe Root, footballer Jude Bellingham and Overwhelming favourite Keely Hodgkinson – who brilliantly won 800m gold at the Olympics on the athletics track.

“I’ve been riding for 20 years and I’ve done everything I can so to be awarded this is something very, very special,” he said.

“I’m very fortunate I’ve done everything I wanted to do, and proud that’s more than many other people have done as well. I always dreamed of having my name alongside those greats I grew up watching.”

It was an interview in a hotel lobby in Yorkshire; he was slightly late and apologised profusely, then answered questions about the Tour de Francewith enthusiasm and detail. For some reason, I thought 10 minutes of flowing conversation made me his trusted confidant, so I looked him in the eyes and asked the question he didn’t like answering: how much do you want to break Eddy Merckx’s Tour stage record? He shrugged it off. But what would it mean to you? He went quiet. Wouldn’t it crown your legacy?

The look was somewhere in the Venn diagram of anger and disdain, and I half expected him to walk off. He stayed, but in that brief moment, I felt the gentlest prod of his famous spikiness. Cavendish was once asked what he’d learned from a difficult day on the bike. “That journalists sometimes ask some stupid f***ing questions,” he replied.

2025 promises to be another exciting year in the world of sport.

Here, the PA news agency picks out 10 stars who are expected to shine, from Keely Hodgkinson to Ellie Kildunne.

England finished as runners-up at the European Championship and Team GB earned 65 medals at this summer’s Olympics in Paris.

Here the PA news agency takes a look at some of the best images from this year’s sporting action.

Littler’s main concern will be his upcoming tie in the World Darts Championships. It’s the competition he made his name in last year, when he lost the final to Luke Humphries – he takes on the winner of Ryan Meikle vs Fallon Sherrock in the second round on Saturday, 21 December.

Later in the year, he’ll look to repeat his victories in the Grand Slam of Darts, the Premier League and World Series Finals.

Luke Littler, who came second in the main award, spoke at more length when picking up his prize for Young Sports Personality of the Year.

“It just goes to show how well I have done this year,” he said.

“Not only for myself, but I have changed the sport of darts.

“I know the amount of academies that have been brought up in different locations, how big the sport has got.

“Tickets selling out with the Ally Pally in hours and the Premier league selling out – it just goes to show how much I have changed it.”

Hodgkinson’s caches, Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, also gave some words after picking up their gong.

“First of all it is an honour to get the microphone as Jenny normally does all the talking,” said Painter.

“It is hard enough standing out in Wigan as a coach, as you have Matt Peet at Wigan Warriors, you have Shaun Wane and Andy Farrell – it is great to do the best you can.”

Meadows said: “I have got to say Trevor’s leadership is brilliant. He really involves that culture and fun. It is hard work on a daily basis.”