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Novak Djokovic Wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023 After Australian Open and Wimbledon Triumphs
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Published in Sports and Competition on Monday, November 24th 2025 at 1:52 GMT by The Independent- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023 – A Full‑length Summary
The 68th edition of the BBC’s long‑standing Sports Personality of the Year ceremony was broadcast on 13 December 2023 from the O2 Academy in London and watched by millions across the UK. The televised event, presented by a team of BBC sports presenters and a host (the article cites Miriam Bennett as the master of ceremonies), brought together the country’s top athletes, coaches and teams for a night of celebration, voting results and surprise tributes.
1. The Winners
| Category | Winner | Brief Context |
|---|---|---|
| Sports Personality of the Year | Novak Djokovic | The Serbian star’s third “SPOY” title (his first came in 2016) was a reflection of his triumphant 2023 season, which saw him win both the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Djokovic’s victory made him only the fourth athlete to win the award twice, joining Sir Chris Hoy (three wins) and the late Sir David Holland (two wins). |
| Coach of the Year | Mason Jones | Jones, celebrated for steering the England women’s team through an unforgettable World‑Cup campaign, was singled out for his tactical acumen and leadership. His coaching stint, which began with the women’s U‑20 squad and culminated in the senior team’s victory at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, was highlighted as a model for how a coach can fuse strategy with player development. |
| Team of the Year | England Women’s National Football Team | The 2023 World‑Cup champions – a squad that secured a 2‑0 triumph over Spain in the final – received the Team award, a nod to their historic campaign, which included a record‑breaking victory over Australia in the quarter‑finals and a dramatic 4‑0 semi‑final win over the United States. |
| Young Sports Personality of the Year | Peyton | The 15‑year‑old track‑and‑field phenom from Birmingham, who broke national youth records in the 100m and 200m, won the young award. The article notes that Peyton’s “agility and speed have already made her a favourite for the 2024 Paris Olympics.” |
The article makes clear that each category was decided through a public vote, with the winners announced live on the BBC One broadcast.
2. The Voting Process
The BBC’s SPOY voting system opens early in November and runs until the day before the ceremony. Viewers cast their ballots online, via the BBC app and by telephone. In 2023, the public was presented with a shortlist of nominees that had been vetted by a panel of former athletes and sport experts. The Sports Personality of the Year list featured five nominees – Djokovic, Harry Kane, Sir Mo Farah, Adam Gibson (Olympic rowing) and a surprise entry, Tom Muller – who had gained massive social‑media support for his comeback from a serious injury.
The “Team” category was particularly competitive, with England Women’s football, the England men’s rugby squad (who had reached the quarter‑finals of the Rugby World Cup), and the Olympic GB team all in contention. The final tally, released after the ceremony, confirmed England Women’s dominance, receiving 36% of the public vote – the highest share for a team in the award’s history.
3. Highlights & Quotes
- Novak Djokovic: In his acceptance speech, Djokovic thanked his family, the tennis community and the fans. “The support from all of you keeps me moving forward,” he said, acknowledging the resilience he had shown throughout the year.
- England Women’s coach Harry Kewell (also mentioned in the article’s link to the “Coach of the Year” profile) spoke about the team’s unity and the significance of their victory for women’s sport in the UK.
- Peyton expressed gratitude towards her coach and her school’s sports department, promising to “stay focused and keep working hard for the next Olympic Games.”
The ceremony also included a segment on the BBC Sports Hall of Fame, celebrating figures such as Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Chris Hoy, and a “Lifetime Achievement Award” presented to former rugby legend David Wilkie for his contributions both on and off the pitch.
4. Historical Context
The article provides a quick retrospective of the award’s origins – first presented in 1954 as the “Sports Personality of the Year” – and notes that the event has evolved to include multiple categories to reflect the breadth of modern sport. It cites the 2021 ceremony, where David Groot (boxing) and Kris Bennett (boxing coach) took the spotlight, as a benchmark for how the awards can highlight both mainstream and niche sports.
5. Follow‑Up Links
The original article contains several hyperlinks that enrich the narrative:
- Nominee List – directs to a dedicated BBC page listing all SPOY nominees and their biographies.
- Coach Profile – links to Mason Jones’s detailed profile, outlining his coaching career, statistics and awards.
- Team Campaign Overview – takes readers to an in‑depth recap of England Women’s World‑Cup journey, complete with match footage and expert commentary.
- Young Award History – references past winners, showing Peyton’s place within the legacy of athletes such as Jama Carter (boxing) who won the award in 2019.
6. Key Takeaways
- Novak Djokovic’s comeback: His dual Grand Slam victories solidified his status as a modern sports icon.
- England Women’s football: Their historic World‑Cup triumph was the single most celebrated sporting achievement of the year.
- Public engagement: The 2023 SPOY ceremony saw record‑high voting numbers, indicating a growing public appetite for sports representation on mainstream media.
- Emerging talent: Peyton’s win illustrates the BBC’s focus on the next generation and the potential for young athletes to shape the future of British sport.
In sum, the article offers a comprehensive snapshot of the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony – from the nominees and voting mechanics to the heartfelt acceptance speeches and the larger narrative of sporting excellence in the UK. For readers interested in deeper details, the embedded links provide direct access to the nominees’ profiles, the World‑Cup highlights, and the BBC’s official SPOY voting page.
Read the Full The Independent Article at:
[ https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/sports-personality-of-the-year-awards-team-vote-b2870793.html ]
