Gymnastics: World champion Beth Tweddle claims fifth spot in this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award

Dec 17 2009 Chester Chronicle

CHESTER’S golden girl Beth Tweddle has thanked Chronicle readers for helping her finish fifth in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

The world champion gymnast beat the likes of heavyweight boxing champion David Haye and Ashes-winning captain Andrew Strauss, polling nearly 39,000 votes in Sunday’s showcase at the Sheffield Arena.

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs scooped the annual BBC award – but Beth was satisfied to make the top five.

The 24-year-old from Bunbury said: “It was a great achievement as I started off the year injured and wasn’t sure how it would pan out for me.

“The success I had at the European Championships gave me the confidence to push on. I’ve had a great year.”

Giggs finished ahead of F1 champion Jenson Button and world champion heptathlete Jessica Ennis.

Many considered it a shock result, but Beth said: “I think Ryan Giggs fully deserved the award because he has had such a wonderful career and a really great season at Manchester United.”

It was not the first time Beth had been nominated for the award, having claimed third spot in 2006.

“I think I’ve had a better year than in 2006,” said Beth, who won world gold on the floor at London’s O2 Arena in October. “The field was so strong this year so I’m delighted to have finished as high as I did. It was a wonderful evening and was a great celebration of just how good British sport is at the moment.

“I’d like to thank all Chronicle readers who voted for me and for the tremendous support you given me throughout my career.”

We have been urging readers to vote for Beth since she made the 10-strong shortlist last month – and Sunday’s result underlines her standing as one of the nation’s top sports personalities.

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