Andy Murray wins 2015 Sports Personality of the Year award
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2015/04/22/1462335-31243733-310-310.jpg)
Updated 20/12/2015 at 22:54 GMT
Andy Murray has been voted Britain's top sports personality of the year in the BBC's annual awards ceremony with rugby league player Kevin Sinfield second and world champion heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill third.
Britain's Andy Murray celebrates after the team won the doubles on the second day of the Davis Cup final against Belgium
Image credit: AFP
Murray topped the voting with over 360,000 votes ahead of Sinfield (278,000) and Ennis-Hill (80,000). World heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, an outspoken and hugely controversial nominee, finished fourth (72,000).
It is the second time the Scotsman and Britain's number one tennis player has been presented with the award after his success for winning Wimbledon in 2013, a year when he ended Britain's 77-year wait for a men's singles title.
Murray last month led Great Britain to their first Davis Cup trophy since 1936 with a 3-1 success against Belgium in Ghent, reached the Australian Open final for a fourth time in February where he lost to Novak Djokovic and finished the year as world number two in his sport behind Djokovic having reached the last four at the French Open and Wimbledon.
"It is very humbling. I appreciate all of the votes, and thank you very much," said the Scotsman on BBC1 at the awards ceremony in Belfast.
Murray was undefeated throughout the Davis Cup as Britain clinched the sport's biggest team event. He won all three matches in the final including a doubles success alongside brother Jamie.
"Thank you very much," Murray said on stage.
I didn't expect this, a friend sent me a message the other day with an article saying 'Andy Murray is duller than a weekend in Worthing', which I thought was a bit harsh - on Worthing! Congratulations to everyone who was involved tonight.
"This has been a five-year journey - we were down in the bottom level of tennis and now we're number one.
I would like to thank the whole team and the staff, who were incredible. I would like to thank my wife (Kim) and my family and everyone who voted for me - I dedicate my life to this sport and I work extremely hard every day to make you proud.
The GB Davis Cup team were named team of the year, New Zealand's All Black rugby World Cup winner Dan Carter was named overseas Sports Personality while Michael O'Neill was named coach of the year for leading Northern Ireland to Euro 2016 qualification, 30 years after their last major finals appearance at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Murray was immediately installed as 6-1 favourite to win next year's SPOTY alongside Ennis-Hill, who will bid for back-to-back golds at the Rio Olympics after her success in London 2012.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement