Let it never be said that people don’t take the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award seriously.
WBA, IBF, and IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was odds-on favourite to claim the prize this year but ‘AJ’ failed to even break the top three as Mo Farah proved a shock winner at this year’s ceremony on Sunday evening.
The result surprised many, with the reaction of Paula Radcliffe’s husband summing up a lot of viewers’ takes on the outcome.
Radcliffe's husband doesn't look thrilled with #SPOTY17 result! pic.twitter.com/2vKXEnQPvs
— David Sheehan (@DavidSSport) December 17, 2017
After technical difficulties initially got in the way of Farah’s acceptance speech, the four-time Olympic champion admitted that he was just as surprised by the win.
“I didn’t see this coming, I thought I wasn’t going to win it,” Farah told BBC Radio 5 Live. “You look at this year and Jonnie Peacock, Anthony Joshua, Lewis Hamilton, it’s been incredible.”
World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea was announced as runner-up at the Liverpool Echo Arena while paralympian Jonnie Peacock came in third.
It wasn’t the result that most viewers expected and definitely wasn’t the one that several wanted as some actually called the police to complain about Farah’s triumph.
Calling 101 to complain that the person you voted for to win the Sports Personality of the Year Award is not an appropriate use of the service and a waste of 15p. Please think carefully before phoning us.
— Cheshire Police (@cheshirepolice) December 17, 2017
Cheshire Police have requested that sports fans stop calling the non-emergency 101 phone number to vent about their disappointment.
“Thank you to everyone that voted for me, I’m just sorry I can’t be there to celebrate,” Farah added.
“It’s something special, it’s pretty amazing. I watch BBC Sports Personality of the Year every year and it’s incredible to actually win this.”
