Keely Hodgkinson has been named Sportswoman of the Year for 2024 by the Sunday Times.
Hodgkinson completed her rise to athletics superstardom by winning gold in the 800m for Great Britain at last summer’s Paris Olympics.
In a stellar 2024, the 22-year-old also retained her European 800m title to become the sixth fastest woman of all time with a time of 54.61 seconds which extended the British record.
Dame Sarah Storey won the Citi Disability Athlete of the Year award after underlining her status as Britain’s most successful Paralympian.
The 47-year-old won a record 18th and 19th gold in Paris to take her Paralympic medal tally to an incredible 30 in nine games.
Britain’s Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, who won bronze in the 10m synchronized with Lois Toulson in Paris, was named Young Athlete of the Year.
The British pairs four of Lauren Henry, Hannah Scott, Lola Anderson and Georgie Brayshaw were named Team of the Year, while the Helen Rollason Inspirational Award went to ultra-runner Jasmin Paris MBE, who became the first woman to finish a 100-mile race Barkley Marathons in Tennessee in March 2024.
Cycling volunteer Val French, who has led more than 1,000 rides for women and girls as a British Cycling Breeze Champion, was named Grassroots Sportswoman of the Year, while broadcaster Eleanor Olyroyd won the Editor’s Choice award.
The prestigious awards, now in their 37th iteration, have led the way in recognizing and celebrating the outstanding contribution of women to sport at all levels, from the elite to the grassroots and the wider community.
“This year’s winners show the strength, resilience and determination that drive women’s sport forward,” said Ben Taylor, editor of The Sunday Times. “From elite athletes to community leaders, everyone has left a lasting impact.
“Many of the winners shined on the world stage at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, creating unforgettable moments for fans. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and excited to see them continue to make history.”
The public nominated hundreds of female athletes in all categories, which were narrowed down to a shortlist by an expert evaluation committee, which included some of the most prominent names in the management and broadcasting of women’s sports.”
After the shortlist was decided, the public voted for the winners in three categories: Grassroots, Changemaker and Team of the Year.
The elite categories (Sportswoman of the Year, City Disabled Sportswoman of the Year and Young Sportswoman of the Year) were decided by a panel of judges, including Olympic heptathlon champions Dame Denise Lewis and Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Paralympic wheelchair runner Baroness Tanni Gray-Thompson and winner England’s Rugby World Cup captain Maggie Alphonsi.
In addition, for the first time this year, the judging panel included male judges who were ardent fans and champions of women’s sport, such as England cricketer Stuart Broad and promoter Eddie Hearn.
Winners of the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year Awards
Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year
Keely Hodgkinson
Young athlete of the year
Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix
Citi’s disabled athlete of the year
Dame Sarah Storey
Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration
Jasmin Paris MBE
Grassroots Athlete of the Year for sure
French wave
Editor’s Choice Award
Broadcaster Eleanor Olyroyd
Swiss Tourist Team of the Year
Great Britain Doubles Four – Lauren Henry, Hannah Scott, Lola Anderson, Georgie Brayshaw
