Golden night for Flintshire’s Jade Jones as she is named BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2016

Double Olympic Taekwondo Champion Jade Jones was tonight named the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2016 at the Wales Sport Awards.

The 23 year old from Flint, was presented with the trophy by Sir Gareth Edwards at the ceremony in Cardiff this evening, Monday, 5 December.

Jones was chosen by the Welsh public after winning Olympic gold in Rio this summer, retaining the title she claimed at London 2012.

BBC

It’s the second time Jones has collected the prestigious award, having also won it in 2012.

She becomes the eighth person to win the title more than once, joining an elite club including Ryan Giggs, Howard Winstone, Colin Jackson, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Ian Woosnam, Joe Calzaghe and Lynn Davies.

And, after reaching the semi-finals of the European Football Championship at their first major tournament since 1958, the Wales Senior Men’s Football Team took the Team of the Year accolade.

There was also a Special Recognition Award for Wales manager Chris Coleman who masterminded the team’s success at Euro 2016.

Sport Wales and BBC Wales joined forces again to hold the country’s biggest annual sporting celebration at Hoddinott Hall, part of the Wales Millennium Centre, in Cardiff Bay.

In the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year Award Jade Jones finished top of the public vote, ahead of runner-up Gareth Bale and third-placed Elinor Barker.

Other outstanding achievements in Welsh sport were honoured at the event.

The winners were:

• Coach of the Year – Robin Williams (Rowing)
• Lifetime Achievement (Elite) Award – Billy Boston (rugby league)
• Lifetime Achievement (Community) Award – Nick Evans (Cricket, Pembrokeshire)
• Volunteer of the Year – Chris Landon (Cycling, Cardiff)
• Young Volunteer of the Year – Joseph Jones (Multi-Sport, Llandudno)
• Young Coach of the Year – Daniel Johnsey (Swimming/Fitness, Monmouthshire)
• Carwyn James Junior Sportsman of the Year – Jake Heyward (Athletics)
• Carwyn James Junior Sportswoman of the Year – Lauren Williams (Taekwondo)
• Coach to Disabled People – Deb Bashford (Wheelchair Basketball, Caernarfon)
• Unsung Hero – Vicki Randall (Netball and Football, Cwmbran)
• Community Coach of the Year – Paul Crapper (Cycling, Abergavenny)