‘It would better than me winning it!’: Sports Personality of the Year favourite Keely Hodgkinson reveals who she’d prefer to win a prize at BBC awards show

Keely Hodgkinson says winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Tuesday night would be topped if her coach Trevor Painter was also to be honoured at the show.

The Olympic 800 metres champion is the odds-on favourite to be crowned SPOTY in Salford on Tuesday night ahead of 17-year-old darts sensation Luke Littler.

But Hodgkinson insists she would get more joy from seeing her mentor Painter win Coach of the Year, in a field which also includes Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet and USA’s ex-Chelsea women’s manager Emma Hayes.

As well as guiding Hodgkinson to gold in Paris, Painter led Georgia Bell to bronze in the 1500m and Lewis Davey to bronze in the men’s 4x400m relay.

‘It would be even better than me winning it,’ said Hodgkinson when asked about the prospect of Painter triumphing in his category. ‘I think he deserves it so much.

‘I’m not sure of any other coach this year that has put forward as much as he has in getting three Olympic medals within our training group.

Keely Hodgkinson became the star of the Paris Olympics when she raced to 800m gold

Hodgkinson insists that her mentor Trevor Painter deserves to win Coach of Year at SPOTY

The annual awards show will take place at MediaCityUK in Salford on Tuesday night

 ‘He just creates such a fun environment for us all that makes us want to keep coming and keep working hard.

‘He’s got a really good work ethic and he believes in all of us. That’s what has helped us achieve so much on the track.’

Should Hodgkinson be successful on Tuesday night, she would be fourth woman in a row to win SPOTY after Emma Raducanu, Beth Mead and Mary Earps.

‘It’s always great when women get recognised in their sports,’ said the 22-year-old, who also retained her European title in an unbeaten season over 800m.

‘For the third or fourth one in a row, it shows that women’s sports in the UK is in a really good place in all different fields.

‘This year for me has been everything I could have imagined. It’s the first time in a year where I’ve achieved everything I’ve set out to achieve on the outdoor track, which is quite special and doesn’t happen very often in people’s careers. I’m really grateful that’s happened.’

Hodgkinson has also vowed to dazzle on the red carpet in Salford as she swaps her spikes for heels having just returned from an altitude-training camp in South Africa.

‘I can’t say what I’m going to wear yet, but it’s an exciting collaboration,’ she said. ‘Hopefully everyone likes it.’

Luke Littler is second favourite after his stunning run to the World Darts Championship final

Keely Hodgkinson is bidding to become the fourth female on the bounce to pick up the BBC’s main award after England goalkeeper Mary Earps’ triumph last year

Mark Cavendish was a surprising omission from the six-person shortlist after breaking the Tour de France stage wins record but he will receive the Lifetime Achievement award instead

Hodgkinson is a huge fashion fan and spent time off after her Olympic glory attending the fashion weeks in London and Milan. She cites meeting Giorgio Armani as the ‘craziest thing’ that has happened to her since Paris.

‘He came over to me and he put his hand on my cheek and called me “Bella”, which I thought was really nice,’ she recalled. ‘That was a really cool moment.

‘He’s just a little man. He can’t speak English, but he’s quite into his sport. It was just quite funny because he’s just this powerful, small man. He’s 90 years old, but he looks great and he’s still heavily involved in his work.’

Hodgkinson’s other SPOTY rivals are world and Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee, England run machine Joe Root, Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham and Paralympic great Sarah Storey.

Mark Cavendish was a surprising omission from the six-person shortlist after breaking the Tour de France stage wins record but he will receive the Lifetime Achievement award instead.

‘Mark Cavendish has redefined what is possible in the world of cycling,’ said Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport. ‘From his medals on the track to his breathtaking Tour de France record, his determination to achieve greatness is nothing short of extraordinary.

‘Mark has inspired generations of athletes and fans alike through his sporting achievements and openness about his mental health struggles.

‘His legacy as one of the greatest cyclists of all time makes him a truly deserving winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement award.’

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