Sports Personality of the Year 2025: Six Stars Who Defined a Landmark Sporting Year

BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025: A Shortlist that Captures Sporting Excellence

Every December, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award brings the nation together to celebrate athletic achievement, personal resilience, and unforgettable moments in sport. In 2025, the shortlist is especially poignant, featuring six athletes whose individual stories reflect not only their own brilliance but also the shifting dynamics of British and global sport. From the drama of football finals to the relentless pursuit of greatness in Formula 1, darts, rugby, and golf, each nominee has delivered performances that will echo for years to come.

Football’s Finest: Hannah Hampton & Chloe Kelly

England’s women’s football team has been at the heart of the sporting conversation this year, and two of its stars—Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly—find themselves vying for the top individual honor. Their journey is a testament to teamwork, nerve, and redemption.

Hannah Hampton, at 25, emerged as a world-class goalkeeper. Her defining moment came during the European Championship final, where she saved two crucial penalties against Spain, sealing England’s victory. These heroics earned her the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d’Or awards, recognizing her as the world’s best female goalkeeper. Hampton’s consistency at club level was equally impressive, anchoring Chelsea’s domestic treble and sharing the Women’s Super League Golden Glove with 13 clean sheets. Her ability to perform under pressure and her resilience in the face of expectation have made her one of the defining figures in women’s football this year (BBC Sport, The Guardian).

Chloe Kelly’s path to the shortlist was marked by uncertainty and transformation. Early in the year, her future at Manchester City and within the England setup looked unsettled. But by summer, Kelly had not only secured a transfer to Arsenal but also became a European champion and Champions League winner. Her signature came in the Euro 2025 final, scoring the decisive penalty after Hampton’s saves. Despite not starting in every match, Kelly’s knack for delivering in high-stakes moments—another successful penalty in the quarter-final and a last-minute semi-final winner—cemented her reputation. She finished fifth in the Women’s Ballon d’Or voting, a testament to her impact on both club and country.

Ellie Kildunne: Rugby’s Relentless Star

For Ellie Kildunne, 2025 was a year of comeback and glory. The 26-year-old full-back played a pivotal role in England’s Women’s Rugby World Cup triumph on home soil. Despite missing the quarter-final due to concussion, Kildunne returned with force, scoring twice in the semi-final against France and dazzling with a solo try in front of 80,000 fans during the final against Canada. She contributed five tries during the tournament and helped England secure another Six Nations Grand Slam. Her club form was equally dominant, racking up 14 tries for Harlequins across the season. Kildunne’s combination of speed, vision, and determination made her one of the most electrifying players in the sport (BBC Sport, The Guardian).

Luke Littler: A Teenage Darts Phenomenon

Few stories in 2025 rival Luke Littler’s rise. At just 17, Littler stunned the darts world by becoming the youngest world champion in history, dispatching Michael van Gerwen in the final. His momentum didn’t stop there—he went on to win the World Matchplay and complete the PDC Triple Crown (World Championship, Premier League, and Matchplay titles), a feat accomplished by only five players in history. Littler’s November triumph at the Grand Slam of Darts propelled him to world number one, breaking van Gerwen’s record and becoming the youngest ever to hold the top spot. Littler’s journey from unknown teen to global star is a reminder of sport’s capacity for surprise and renewal.

Rory McIlroy: The Long-Awaited Grand Slam

For Rory McIlroy, 2025 was a year of personal and professional redemption. After years of near misses, heartbreaks, and questions about his place among golf’s elite, McIlroy finally captured the Masters title in a dramatic playoff, joining an exclusive group as only the sixth player in history to complete a Grand Slam of all four major championships. His contributions to Europe’s Ryder Cup victory, delivering three-and-a-half points on hostile U.S. soil, underscored his resilience. McIlroy’s year included wins at the Players Championship, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and the Irish Open, culminating in his seventh Race to Dubai title. His success is a testament to patience and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Lando Norris: Formula 1’s New Champion

Formula 1 witnessed one of its closest and most dramatic seasons in recent memory, and at its center was Lando Norris. The 26-year-old McLaren driver overcame a significant mid-season deficit, trailing teammate Oscar Piastri by 34 points after 15 races. Norris fought back with consecutive wins in Mexico and Brazil, setting up a tense finale in Abu Dhabi. Facing Piastri and four-time champion Max Verstappen, Norris held his nerve, finishing third to secure his first drivers’ championship—McLaren’s first since 2008. Norris’s triumph, by just two points over Verstappen, made him the 11th Briton to claim the title and showcased his composure under immense pressure.

Celebrating Sporting Achievement: The Ceremony and What Comes Next

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony will be broadcast live from MediaCityUK in Salford on December 18, hosted by Gabby Logan, Alex Scott, and Clare Balding. Viewers across the UK can vote for their favorite nominee during the show, with details announced on the night. The event will also honor teams, coaches, young athletes, and those whose stories have made a lasting impact, including the Lifetime Achievement and Helen Rollason Awards. The World Sport Star award, with voting already open, will add an international dimension to the celebration (BBC Sport, The Guardian).

This year’s shortlist—Hampton, Kelly, Kildunne, Littler, McIlroy, and Norris—embodies not only the pursuit of excellence but also the resilience and adaptability required to succeed at the highest level. Their stories, marked by comeback victories, record-breaking achievements, and personal growth, reflect the spirit of sport in 2025.

As the nation prepares to cast its vote, the true measure of sporting greatness lies not just in trophies and titles, but in the courage to overcome setbacks, the ability to inspire, and the enduring legacy each athlete creates. The 2025 shortlist stands as a testament to a year when the boundaries of possibility were pushed, and the stories behind the headlines resonated far beyond the field of play.