BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016: Andy Murray wins for a record third time

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Andy Murray has been voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for a record third time.

Murray, the 2013 and 2015 winner, took Olympic gold, claimed his second Wimbledon title and became tennis' world number one in a remarkable 2016.

Triathlete Alistair Brownlee was second and show jumper Nick Skelton third.

"It's been a great year for British sport and I am so proud to have been a part of it," said 29-year-old Murray as he accepted the award from Miami.

In front of a 12,000-strong audience at Birmingham's Genting Arena, Murray accepted the award via video-link from Florida, where he is preparing for the 2017 season.

As he took the prize from former British boxing world champion Lennox Lewis and gathered members of his training team around him, he added: "I'd like to thank everyone who voted - I really appreciate your support."

Brownlee, 28, became the first man to retain the Olympic triathlon title at Rio 2016, finishing ahead of brother Jonny, who claimed the silver.

The Yorkshireman later made headlines across the world when he selflessly helped his exhausted brother over the line in a dramatic end to the Triathlon World Series in Mexico.

Skelton, 58, claimed individual show jumping gold at Rio 2016, becoming Britain's second oldest Olympic gold medallist, 16 years after initially retiring with a neck broken in two places.

In his acceptance speech, Scot Murray said: "I'd also like to thank my family. I think my mum is in the crowd there [in Birmingham]. I'd like to thank my dad as as well, who just got married 10 days ago. I miss you guys.

"A huge thanks to my wife and my daughter - she won't know what this means yet, but maybe in a few years she will.

"Actually, I've got a bone to pick with my wife because about an hour ago she told me she'd voted for Nick Skelton. Not smart from her with Christmas coming up."

Murray received 247,419 votes, Brownlee 121,665 and Skelton 109,197.

Skelton was asked whether he was aware Murray's wife had voted for him, and responded: "I'm very pleased with her actually. But she didn't vote enough times."

http://www.bbc.com/sport/sports-personality/38358869
 
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