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Kelly Holmes is BBC Sports personality of the year
MUMBAI: British athlete Kelly Holmes has been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2004. Holmes was presented with the trophy for being the sports personality who most captured the UK public’s imagination this year.
Holmes took two gold medals from this year’s Athens Olympics, in the 800m and 1500m. Holmes said, “After 20 years of dreaming I finally got my dream once not twice. This award is the biggest sporting honour your country can give you and for that I would like to thank the public for voting for me.”
She also her thanked her coaches as well as her family and friends. Matthew Pinsent came second, with cricket pace bowler Andrew Flintoff coming in third place.
The overseas personality of the year went to tennis world number one Roger Federer. Federer won three of the four Grand Slams this year. He became the first man to do so since Sweden’s Mats Wilander in 1988.
Great Britain’s rowing team Coxless Four were voted for as Team of the Year. Matthew Pinsent accepted the award, which was presented by Otto Rehhagel, the coach of the Greek national football team. Arsene Wenger was adjudged the coach of the year for guiding Arsenal FC to a record-breaking run of 49 unbeaten League games.
Former cricket allrounder Ian Botham received the lifetime achievement award. The award was presented by Sir Vivian Richards.
Andrew Murray is BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year. Andrew is one of Britain’s brightest tennis hopes after he followed in the footsteps of tennis greats such as Stefan Edberg and Pat Cash when he won the US Open boys singles titles at Flushing Meadows this year.
