Jessica Gadirova named as the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year

Jessica Gadirova has been named the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year  

The 18-year-old gymnast who was additionally named in the six-person shortlist to win the principal prize of the night, beat diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and 14-year-old skateboarder Sky Brown to clinch the award.

Gadirova grew to become solely the fifth British gymnast to win a person world title as she claimed ground gold in her house metropolis of Liverpool final month. 

Jessica Gadirova has been named the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year for 2022

Gadirova received three medals at the World Gymnastic Championships in her house metropolis of Liverpool

At the world championships, she additionally took a silver in the workforce competitors as properly as a bronze medal in the particular person all-around. 

After profitable the award she mentioned: ‘Thank you to my assist workforce, my coaches, British gymnastics, my family and friends this – goes to you I would not have the ability to obtain this with out you. You imply the world to me so this goes to you.’

The teenager can be a two-time European ground champion and competes alongside her sister Jennifer who she paid particular tribute to whereas talking on stage.

Before profitable the award she mentioned: ‘Obviously the 12 months began with the Commonwealths, we did wonderful to return away with a workforce gold. At the Europeans we achieved silver which helped us qualify for the Worlds.

Gadirova pictured together with her twin sister and fellow gymnast Jennifer Gadirova earlier than the present

‘To be in the house crowd at Liverpool was such an unbelievable expertise. The women had been simply wonderful. To come second in the workforce closing was wonderful. Then to high it throughout attaining gold on the ground.

‘I knew it was the final comp so I gave it my all, blocked every little thing out and put the finest efficiency out for Great Britain.

‘Jennifer simply means the world to me, we have grown up facet by facet. To be on the ground closing with me simply melts my coronary heart. I could not think about not being there together with her, I like you Jen.’

Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (proper), the daughter of First Dates’ Fred Sirieix, was additionally up in the operating for the award after profitable seven diving medals throughout 2022

Spendolini-Sirieix, 18, was the 2020 winner of the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and received seven diving medals throughout the Worlds, European Championships and the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

The daughter of First Dates’ Fred Fred Sirieix, began with a workforce bronze at the Worlds, earlier than seizing two golds and a silver from this summer time’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, together with a private finest in the 10m platform closing.

The Euros in Rome noticed her additionally win two extra golds, as properly as workforce bronze.

All roads result in Paris 2024, the place she is going to absolutely be in competition for a primary Olympic medal, having completed seventh in her particular person closing on her debut in Toyko final 12 months.

Brown in the meantime was the winner of final 12 months’s Young Sports Personality of the Year.

This 12 months the skateboarder took a gold medal at the X Games held in California and the Dew Tour. 

Gadirova is one of six sports activities stars shortlisted for the principal award and is up in opposition to Beth Mead, Eve Muirhead, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Ben Stokes and Jake Wightman.