Mo Farah wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year despite 50,000 less votes than his previous best

Sir Mo Farah earned 50,000 fewer votes last night for his BBC Sports Personality of the Year win than he recorded for his previous best finish in the annual awards.

Farah, as much as 50-1 with bookmakers to win the coveted gong before the event, was the shock victor after winning 83,524 votes, 15 per cent of the public votes recorded.

But the Londoner, who had never before finished in the top three and had admitted to giving up on winning the award, earned significantly more votes in 2012, after he had won double Olympic gold, compared to his triumph last night.

That year, he finished fourth behind Sir Bradley Wiggins, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Andy Murray but, in a bumper year for British sport, earned 131,327 votes from the public. On that occasion, it was eight per cent of the public vote.

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, one of the favourites to land this year’s award after becoming the most successful British grand prix driver in history, tweeted his congratulations to the SPOTY winner, saying: “Congrats to my bro @Mo_Farah for winning BBC’s SPOTY tonight! Well deserved and true gent legend of the sport!”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also weighed in with his congratulations, saying: “Congratulations Sir Mo Farah - deserved winner of Sports Personality of the Year. Our greatest athlete and a proud Londoner.”

It is in London where Farah will be tested in his post-track career, lining up for only the second major marathon of his career in April.