Keely Hodgkinson could well win the SPOTY award (Image: Getty)
Keely Hodgkinson is the odds-on favourite to claim the BBC Sports Personality of the Year crown for 2024 and could be rewarded bountifully for it. The 22-year-old Team GB star took to the Paris 2024 stage and did not disappoint.
Building on her 800m silver medal in Tokyo in 2021, she claimed gold in the French capital this summer, capturing the admiration of British fans. Now, for her exploits, Hodgkinson has been billed as the bonafide frontrunner to land the award – last won by Lionesses heroine Mary Earps in 2023 and her team-mate Beth Mead the year prior – ahead of fellow favourite darts phenom Luke Littler.
Hodgkinson may not just be rewarded with the trophy should she win on Tuesday (17 December) evening, either. A sports finance expert predicts that she will rake in a whopping £1million per year until the next Olympic Games in 2028 on the back of her anticipated SPOTY success.
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Dr Rob Wilson, speaking over the summer after Hodgkinson’s medal win, exclusively told : “Keely is already becoming one of the most recognisable faces for UK athletics.
“Now she has managed to grab the gold, she can expect a stellar relationship with brands, marketing agencies, and UK Athletics, becoming a poster athlete for endorsements and associated commercial activities.
“A Sports Personality of the Year win would only serve to amplify this reputation further. She will be looking at earnings surpassing £1m per year over the next Olympic cycle.”
Hodgkinson will find out her fate on Tuesday evening (Image: Getty)
In November, Hodgkinson was estimated to have a net worth of around the £250,000 mark. She was estimated to have earned a minimum of £39,000 for winning gold at the Paris Olympics.
And now, with the 800m star in line to receive the coveted award – potentially becoming the fourth female winner in a row – it seems she is set to take up the mantle as the face of UK athletics and reap the financial benefits.
Yet, Hodgkinson wasn’t even fully aware she had been nominated for the prize, as she told : “It was actually my mum who told me [I’d been nominated] because I’m in South Africa.
“My whole family is just really happy. It’s been one of the best years ever, and to finish it off with a SPOTY nomination is the perfect ending. It’s a nice moment for all of us to come together and celebrate – we celebrated plenty in Paris, but this will be great.
“In an Olympic year, there are always loads of athletes who deserve to be chosen, so it feels really great to be nominated alongside all the other amazing athletes.
“When you watch SPOTY it’s always really nice to hear the other nominees’ stories and see parents talk about their children and what they did for them growing up, so I’m looking forward to hearing those stories.”