Heptathlete Jessica Ennis from Sheffield and triathlete Alistair Brownlee from Leeds were winners of the Achievement in Sport Award in 2009 and 2010 respectively, while rower Andrew Triggs-Hodge from Hebden near Skipton was Personality of the Year in 2008.
In addition to the three gold medals, three former winners were Olympic Torchbearers in the run-up to the event. Thirteen-year-old George Stocker (Youngster of the Year 2010) carried the flame through Wetherby, Jack Marshall (Youngster of the Year 2007), also 13, carried the torch in Doncaster and Jono Lancaster, last year’s Unsung Hero, did the honours in Wakefield.
Previous winners Mel B (1997 Personality of the Year) and the Kaiser Chiefs (2005 Achievements in the Arts) starred in the Olympic closing ceremony on Sunday, while 2000 Personality of the Year Gabby Logan (then Yorath) presented the daily Olympics Tonight round-up for the BBC.
As we went to press, the spotlight was on 2008 Achievement in Sport winner David Stone, who is looking to add to the two golds he won at the 2008 Paralympics in London at the end of the month.