Lennox Lewis, world heavyweight champion, has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

He said he hoped his 10-year fight to reach the pinnacle of boxing would act as an inspiration to young sporting hopefuls everywhere.

"This is a great honour for me," he said.

"I'd like to thank the team behind me and my country. It's been 10 years and there have been trials and tribulations trying to acheive this goal.

"They made me box 24 rounds for it so I can say I earnt it.

"For all the young people out there, may my trials and tribulations be a level of success for them.

"I'd also like to thank my fans for bringing me through."

Record: WBC champion, 1992-1994, 1997-1999. WBC, WBA, IBF champion 1999.

Newcomer of the Year
Dean Macey, decathlete.

Macey was virtually unknown until this year's world athletics championships when he burst onto the international scene with a string of stunning performances in the decathlon.

In six of the ten events he recorded personal bests.

Macey went to Seville just three months after crashing out of the U23 Championships in Gothenburg, when he was forced to retire after a disastrous 110m hurdles.

But he bounced back and Macey, who gave up the chance of a football career at Arsenal to concentrate on athletics, now has the record of Britain's greatest ever decathlete, Daley Thompson, in his sights.

"I would not have done it without the backing I have had from everyone, my sponsors, my family and my girlfriend," said a modest Macey.

"They have worked just as hard as me."

Team of the Year
Manchester United

Manchester United created British footballing history this year by becoming the first side to complete a unique treble.

Their record this year reads: Played 58 games, Won 39, Scored 115 goals and earned four trophies.

"Winning in Barcelona was the highlight of the year," said their coach, Sir Alex Ferguson.

"The club wanted it because it had been a long time since 1968. It was a truly special day.

"What we have comes from the players themselves, they have a self-dtermination and if you put them together it has a powerful effect."

Coach of the Year:
Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United manager

Ferguson's place as a footballing great is assured not just at Old Trafford, but in the annals of British sporting history.

There is no man Manchester United fans love to hate more than Ferguson, and he that has sometimes been his biggest strength.

His straight-talking Scottish manner manages to deflect pressure from his players while at the same time winning their admiration and unquestioning loyalty.

The son of Govan was awarded an OBE in 1984 and is only the eighth football manager or player to receive a knighthood.

"Once you get to know the gaffer, he is fantastic. He's a winner. We go out not just to play for him but as a team, that's why we're successful," said striker Dwight Yorke.

Helen Rollason Award:
Jenny Pitman, race horse trainer.

Jenny Pitman, who retired earlier this year from her beloved sport, is one of the biggest names in national hunt.

She has fought her own battle against cancer and is the first winner of this new accolade, awarded in recognition of outstanding courage and achievement in the face of adversity

For some years Pitman was admired for her acheivements as a woman, becoming the first female trainer of a Grand National winner, Corbiere.

But by the end of her 25-year career she was regarded as one of national hunt's greatest trainers, male or female, winning two Grand Nationals and two Cheltenham Gold Cups.

Last year she was awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours List for services to racing.

"For a number of years I have been coming here to see people collecting awards and it's a great honour that I recieve this Helen Rollason award," she said, close to tears.

"She was a very good friend to me and a true professional.

"I think sometimes in our job we can be called hard or tough. She was a tough lady but she also had an incredible warmth.

"In a way I wish I wasn't receiving this award because I wish she was still here."

The award was presented by Helen's daughter Nikki.

Overseas sports personality of the year
Maurice Greene, sprinter

Greene was the star of this year's world athletics championsips in Seville, taking three gold medals.

Nicknamed the Kansas Cannonball, Greene also led his team-mates to the 4x100m relay gold (ahead of Britain) to complete a remarkable treble.

Greene has already equalled the 9.79-seconds world record set illegally by a drug-fuelled Ben Johnson at the 1988 Seoul Olympics - and believes he can run even faster.