The World Cup-winning hero Ben Stokes took home BBC’s Sports Personality of the year award defeating many sportspeople including Lewis Hamilton.
He is the first cricketer to receive the award since Andrew Flintoff in 2005, he reflected how his story had come full circle. “Two years ago, it was a tough time for me in my life,” he said, his voice quavering. “But I have had so many people help me through it.”
Ben Stokes not only took England home in the World Cup but also showed the heroics in the Ashes Test with an unbeaten hundred to win a thriller contest.
“My parents live on the other side of the world and they don’t get to share moments like this with me, but I’ll never forget the time they dedicated to me growing up, the selflessness that it took to get me to training camps around the country,” he said. “This is for you. I need to thank my amazing wife, Clare, too. Family to me is more important to me than what I do for a living. Whether I come back from a good day or a bad day, they are there for me, no matter what.”
Ben Stokes is also just the fifth cricketer to win the award.
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