Key Facts

2008 – Year 55

1st – Chris Hoy (cycling)
2nd – Lewis Hamilton (motor racing)
3rd – Rebecca Adlington (swimming)

2007 – Year 54

1st – Joe Calzaghe (boxing)
2nd – Lewis Hamilton (motor racing)
3rd – Ricky Hatton (boxing)

2006 – Year 53

1st – Zara Phillips (equestrian)
2nd – Darren Clarke (golf)
3rd – Beth Tweddle (gymnastics)

2005 – Year 52

1st – Andrew Flintoff (cricket)
2nd – Ellen MacArthur (sailing)
3rd – Steven Gerrard (football)

2004 – Year 51

1st – Kelly Holmes (athletics)
2nd – Matthew Pinsent (rowing)
3rd – Andrew Flintoff (cricket)

2003 – Year 50

1st – Jonny Wilkinson (rugby)
2nd – Martin Johnson (rugby)
3rd – Paula Radcliffe (athletics)

2002 – Year 49

1st – Paula Radcliffe (athletics)
2nd – David Beckham (football)
3rd – Tony McCoy (horse racing)

2001 – Year 48

1st – David Beckham (football)
2nd – Ellen MacArthur (sailing)
3rd – Michael Owen (football)

2000 – Year 47

1st – Steve Redgrave (rowing)
2nd – Denise Lewis (athletics)
3rd – Tanni Grey-Thompson (wheelchair athletics)

1999 – Year 46

1st – Lennox Lewis (boxing)
2nd – David Beckham (football)
3rd – Colin Jackson (athletics)

1998 – Year 45

1st – Michael Owen (football)
2nd – Denise Lewis (athletics)
3rd – Ewan Thomas (athletics)

1997 – Year 44

1st – Greg Rusedski (tennis)
2nd – Tim Henman (tennis)
3rd – Steve Redgrave (rowing)

1996 – Year 43

1st – Damon Hill (motor racing)
2nd – Steve Redgrave (rowing)
3rd – Frankie Detorri (horse racing)

1995 – Year 42

1st – Jonathan Edwards (athletics)
2nd – Frank Bruno (boxing)
3rd – Colin McRae (rallying)

1994 – Year 41

1st – Damon Hill (motor sport)
2nd – Sally Gunnell (athletics)
3rd – Colin Jackson (athletics)

1993 – Year 40

1st – Linford Christie (athletics)
2nd – Sally Gunnell (athletics)
3rd – Nigel Mansell (motor racing)

1992 – Year 39

1st – Nigel Mansell (motor racing)
2nd – Linford Christie (athletics)
3rd – Sally Gunnell (athletics)

1991 – Year 38

1st – Liz McColgan (athletics)
2nd – Will Carling (rugby union)
3rd – Gary Lineker (football)

1990 – Year 37

1st – Paul Gascoigne (football)
2nd – Stephen Hendry (snooker)
3rd – Graham Gooch (cricket)

1989 – Year 36

1st – Nick Faldo (golf)
2nd – Frank Bruno (boxing)
3rd – Steve Davis (snooker)

1988 – Year 35

1st – Steve Davis (snooker)
2nd – Adrian Moorhouse (swimming)
3rd – Sandy Lyle (golf)

1987 – Year 34

1st – Fatima Whitbread (athletics)
2nd – Steve Davis (snooker)
3rd – Ian Woosnam (golf)

1986 – Year 33

1st – Nigel Mansell (motor racing)
2nd – Fatima Whitbread (athletics)
3rd – Kenny Dalglish (football)

1985 – Year 32

1st – Barry McGuigan (boxing)
2nd – Ian Botham (cricket)
3rd – Steve Cram (athletics)

1984 – Year 31

1st – Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean (ice skating)
2nd – Seb Coe (athletics)
3rd – Steve Davis (snooker)

1983 – Year 30

1st – Steve Cram (athletics)
2nd – Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean (ice skating)
3rd – Daley Thompson (athletics)

1982 – Year 29

1st – Daley Thompson (athletics)
2nd – Alex Higgins (snooker)
3rd – Steve Cram (athletics)

1981 – Year 28

1st – Ian Botham (cricket)
2nd – Steve Davis (snooker)
3rd – Sebastian Coe (athletics)

1980 – Year 27

1st – Robin Cousins (ice skating)
2nd – Sebastian Coe (athletics)
3rd – Daley Thompson (athletics)

1979 – Year 26

1st – Sebastian Coe (athletics)
2nd – Ian Botham (cricket)
3rd – Kevin Keegan (football)

1978 – Year 25

1st – Steve Ovett (athletics)
2nd – Daley Thompson (athletics)
3rd – Ian Botham (cricket)

1977 – Year 24

1st – Virginia Wade (tennis)
2nd – Geoff Boycott (cricket)
3rd – Barry Sheene (motor cycling)

1976 – Year 23

1st – John Curry (ice skating)
2nd – James Hunt (motor racing)
3rd – David Wilkie (swimming)

1975 – Year 22

1st – David Steele (cricket)
2nd – Alan Pascoe (athletics)
3rd – David Wilkie (swimming)

1974 – Year 21

1st – Brendan Foster (athletics)
2nd – John Conteh (boxing)
3rd – Willie John McBride (rugby union)

1973 – Year 20

1st – Jackie Stewart (motor racing)
2nd – Roger Taylor (tennis)
3rd – Paddy McMahon (showjumping)

1972 – Year 19

1st – Mary Peters (athletics)
2nd – Gordon Banks (football)
3rd – Richard Meade (equestrian)

1971 – Year 18

1st – Princess Anne (equestrian)
2nd – George Best (football)
3rd – Barry John (rugby union)

1970 – Year 17

1st – Henry Cooper (boxing)
2nd – Tony Jacklin (golf)
3rd – Bobby Moore (football)

1969 – Year 16

1st – Ann Jones (tennis)
2nd – Tony Jacklin (golf)
3rd – George Best (football)

1968 – Year 15

1st – David Hemery (athletics)
2nd – Graham Hill (motor racing)
3rd – Marion Coakes (showjumping)

1967 – Year 14

1st – Henry Cooper (boxing)
2nd – Beryl Burton (cycling)
3rd – Harvey Smith (showjumping)

1966 – Year 13

1st – Bobby Moore (football)
2nd – Barry Briggs (speedway)
3rd – Geoff Hurst (football)

1965 – Year 12

1st – Tommy Simpson (cycling)
2nd – Jim Clark (motor racing)
3rd – Marion Coakes (equestrian)

1964 – Year 11

1st – Mary Rand (athletics)
2nd – Barry Briggs (speedway)
3rd – Ann Packer (athletics)

1963 – Year ten

1st – Dorothy Hyman (athletics)
2nd – Bobby McGregor (swimming)
3rd – Jim Clark (motor racing)

1962 – Year nine

1st – Anita Lonsbrough (swimming)
2nd – Dorothy Hyman (athletics)
3rd – Linda Ludgrove (swimming)

1961 – Year eight

1st – Stirling Moss (motor racing)
2nd – Billy Walker (boxing)
3rd – Angela Mortimer (tennis)

1960 – Year seven

1st – David Broome (showjumping)
2nd – Don Thompson (athletics)
3rd – Anita Lonsbrough (swimming)

1959 – Year six

1st – John Surtees (motor cycling)
2nd – Bobby Charlton (football)
3rd – Ian Black (swimming)

1958 – Year five

1st – Ian Black (swimming)
2nd – Bobby Charlton (football)
3rd – Nat Lofthouse (football)

1957 – Year four

1st – Dai Rees (golf)
(no record of the 2nd and 3rd place winners survives)

1956 – Year three

1st – Jim Laker (cricket)
(no record of the 2nd and 3rd place winners survives)

1955 – Year two

1st – Gordon Pirie (athletics)
(no record of the 2nd and 3rd place winners survives)

1954 – Year one

1st – Chris Chataway (athletics)
2nd – Roger Bannister (athletics)
3rd – Pat Smythe (equestrian)