(Football news) Beth Mead became the first female footballer to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. She was instrumental in England’s European Championship victory, being crowned player of the tournament and top scorer at Euro 2022. England cricket team’s Test captain Ben Stokes came in second place while winter Olympics curling champion Eve Muirhead third. Gymnast Jessica Gadirova, who won the floor world title, seven time snooker world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and 1,500m athletics world champion Jake Wightman were also shortlisted for the award by a panel of experts.
“I’m incredibly honoured to win this award. I wouldn’t have done it without the girls. The team has backed me. Yes, I’ve won this accolade, I’ve scored a few goals but I wouldn’t have done it without them. This is for women’s sport and women’s sport heading in the right direction. Let’s keep pushing girls, let’s keep doing the right thing.” Mead’s stellar performances resulted in her winning the Golden Boot at Euro 2022, scoring six goals and providing five assists. She was also named Arsenal’s player of the season, won BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year award in 2022 and came second in the Ballon d’Or Feminin.
To say that her 2021-22 season was impressive would be an understatement as she scored 20 goals in 19 matches internationally, beating Jimmy Greaves’ record of 13 in 1960-61. The England Women’s team were unbeaten in 2022, scoring 72 goals and conceding just 7 in 16 wins and four draws. The Lionesses were crowned Sports Personality Team of the Year award and coach Sarina Wiegman won the Coach of the Year.
Mead’s standout performances are even more impressive considering that she didn’t even make it to Team GB’s squad for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a testament to her personality and character. Domestically, Mead scored 14 goals and provided 19 assists in 40 appearances in the 2021-22 season for Arsenal, who came very close to winning the Women’s Super League title (finishing a point behind Chelsea). The 27 year old suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Manchester United in the ongoing season and is now a doubt for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year.
Other award winners at Sports Personality 2022
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 Sport Star: Lionel Messi
Also read: Lionel Messi crowned BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star of the Year
