England and Arsenal striker Beth Mead has been named BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2022.
Mead starred at this summer’s Euro 2022, where she helped the Lionesses to glory at Wembley, England’s first major women’s football trophy.
The 27-year-old becomes the first female footballer to win the award.
In a public vote, England Test captain Ben Stokes came second and Eve Muirhead, who led Team GB to curling gold at the Winter Olympics, came third.
Athlete Jake Wightman, seven-time world snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and gymnast Jessica Gadirova were also shortlisted for the award.
“I’m speechless for once,” Mead said.
“I’m incredibly honored to win this award. I wouldn’t have done it without the girls. The team has supported me. Yes, I’ve won this award, I’ve scored a few goals but I wouldn’t have done it without them.” added.
“This is for women’s sports and women’s sports going in the right direction. We keep pushing the girls, we keep doing the right thing.”
Mead’s stellar performances at Euro 2022 saw her named Player of the Tournament and win the Golden Boot with six goals and five assists.
Mead also won the Team Sports Personality of the Year award along with her Lionesses teammates, while England head coach Sarina Wiegman won the Coach of the Year the year.
The accolades are the latest in a long list this year where Mead has already been named Arsenal’s player of the season for 2021-22, finished second in the Women’s Ballon d’Or and won the Women’s Footballer of the Year award. ‘Year of the BBC.
His international goal tally for the 2021–22 campaign was 20 in 19 games, breaking Jimmy Greaves’ long-standing record for most England goals in a season.
English footballer Beth Mead nominated for Sports Personality
Mead’s incredible year to remember
Having been left out of Team GB’s squad for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Mead’s achievement is all the more remarkable.
He scored in four of England’s six Euro games, including a hat-trick against Norway in the group stage, and pipped Germany’s Alex Popp to the Golden Boot.
He has also helped England qualify for next year’s World Cup with a 100% record and without conceding a single goal.
The Euros were the first major trophy for the Lionesses and the first for a senior England team since the men won the 1966 World Cup.
Domestically, Mead was in superb form for his club Arsenal ahead of the tournament, scoring 14 goals and providing 19 assists in 40 appearances in the 2021-22 campaign as the Gunners came agonizingly close to a first Women’s Super League title since 2019, but finished second behind Chelsea by a point.
Mead’s 2022-23 campaign looked set to be just as prolific but has been cut short after he suffered an ACL injury against Manchester United in November, throwing his World Cup hopes into doubt next year in Australia and New Zealand.
Presented by Gary Lineker, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott, Sports Personality of the Year 2022 was broadcast live from MediaCityUK, Salford.
Other Sports Personality 2022 Award Winners
Helen Rollason Award: Rob Burrow
Coach of the year: Sarina Wiegman
Team of the Year: England Women
Young Sports Personality of the Year: Jessica Gadirova
Lifetime Achievement: Usain Bolt
Unsung Hero: Mike Alden
World sports star: Lionel Messi