Jockey Rachael Blackmore wins at BBC awards

Rachael Blackmore BBC awards — CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 16: Rachael Blackmore onboard Honeysuckle celebrates after victory in the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 16, 2021 in Cheltenham, England. Sporting venues around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit spectators inside venues resulting in events being held behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Record-breaking jockey Rachael Blackmore has been crowned world sport star of the year at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) awards.

The 32-year-old Irish jockey was up against Formula 1’s newly crowned world champion Max Verstappen, tennis legend Novac Djokovic, Jamaican Olympic sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah, super-middleweight boxing champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, and American NFL quarterback Tom Brady, in the category. Russian UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov won the award in 2020. All the BBC SPOTY awards are voted for by the public.

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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.

Top rider beats Formula 1 world champion and tennis ace to claim prestigious award

Rachael was crowned world sport star during a televised ceremony yesterday (9 December) hosted by Gabby Logan, Claire Balding, Gary Lineker and Alex Scott.

Rachael said to win was “unbelievable”, and described the support from those that had voted as “incredible”.

“I got such a kick out of being on that list of nominees. It’s overwhelming to think I’ve been given an award,” she said.

“[As a little girl] I think my dreams were so big that I never dreamt they could happen. It [this year] far surpassed anything I could ever have imagined. It was just an incredible year.”

Rachael said the response from the general public following her record-breaking achievements had been “brilliant”.

“For me personally they are such massive things to achieve, but when you can bring a bit of joy to other people that makes them even more special,” she said. “The reaction from everyone at home has been incredible and I feel very privileged to have had the year I’ve had.”

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