Young Sports Personality of the Year 2020: Young diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix wins
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Spendolini-Sirieix was 15 when she won her first national title in January
Young diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix has won the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year 2020.
This year the 16-year-old beat tough competition from footballer Jude Bellingham and Paralympic skier Neil Simpson in the running for the title.
Andrea was announced as the winner on Blue Peter on Thursday 10 December and she will also take part in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year live show on 20 December on BBC One.
Back in February, Andrea won her first solo international gold medal in the women's 10m platform at the Fina Diving Grand Prix in Rostock, Germany.
A month earlier she won a first senior British title in the same event at the British National Diving Championships - next she's aiming for the Olympics!
SPOTY: Diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix has been named BBC Young Sports Personality of the
How does it work?
Every year many talented young sportspeople are nominated for the award, sometimes called YSPOTY, by different sports governing bodies via the Youth Sport Trust.
A special panel then choose the finalists.
This year it was the turn of Olympic diver Tom Daley (who has himself won the title three times), Blue Peter presenter Richie Driss, and Blue Peter viewer Lucy Tristram.
Lucy won a competition to join the panel as a Blue Peter Young Judge after applying for a Blue Peter Sport badge.
They were also joined by 2018 Young Sports Personality of the Year winner and Paralympic medallist Kare Adenegan, Leeds Rhinos director of rugby Kevin Sinfield and Radio 1 presenter Adele Roberts.
Last year, 18-year-old boxer Caroline Dubois was crowned the winner.
Who else was nominated in 2020?
Jude Bellingham
Age: 17
Biggest moment: He moved from Birmingham City to German giants Borussia Dortmund in a deal potentially worth £30m and quickly became not only the the club's youngest goalscorer, but also the youngest Englishman to play in the Champions League.
His talent at club level caught the attention of England manager Gareth Southgate, making him the third-youngest player to win a Three Lions cap.
Neil Simpson
Aged: 17
Biggest moment: He enjoyed breakthrough success at the World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup in Slovenia, winning two medals. He took bronze in the visually impaired giant slalom event along with his guide and brother Andrew, before going on to claim gold in the slalom on the final day of competition.
- Published16 December 2019
- Published16 December 2019
- Published19 December 2021
