With the controversy over Tyson Fury’s inclusion on the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year Award in the run-up to the event, some of the more inspiring stories can be overlooked.
But there was one little boy who refused to be overshadowed by anyone. That was eight-year-old Bailey Matthews.
The youngster, who has cerebral palsy, completed his first ever triathlon this year alongside his dad.
He did a 100m swim, 4km bike ride and 1.3km run at the Castle Howard Triathlon in North Yorkshire.
This was the moment he made it across the finish line…
Bailey Matthews, what an amazing young man! #SPOTY#Heropic.twitter.com/deOVmGqVAi
— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) December 20, 2015
The video of his incredible achievement was seen around the world more than 27 million times.
Bailey was given the Helen Rollason Award for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.
His dad was in tears when Bailey was brought up on stage to collect his award. But the young athlete was loving every minute of it – joking to the crowd ‘I think you can stop cheering now’.
This is what SPOTY is all about. The lad is a true inspiration.
Little Bailey Matthews what a legend #SPOTY https://t.co/KAH2XMnLYv
— HuffPostUK Pictures (@HuffPostUKPics) December 20, 2015
What an #inspiration this little boy is #BaileyMatthews really deserves the award 🎅🎅🎅😺😺😺🐶🐶🐶🐸🐸🐸 pic.twitter.com/CySiBgAMCD
— Poowoodly (@poowoodly) December 20, 2015
It’s fair to say he won the hearts of everyone on the internet…
Moment of the night! Well done Bailey Matthews! #SPOTY2015 #BaileyMatthews 😊
— R.B. 🖕🏻 (@blueman102) December 20, 2015
https://twitter.com/markctharrison/status/678663109788221443
Bailey Matthews – what an inspiring young man! A disability is no obstacle to achieving incredible things. #SPOTY2015
— Differently Dave (@GoldenVision90) December 20, 2015
https://twitter.com/Gmfc1977/status/678662828673355777
If we had more people with Bailey Matthews 'go get 'em' attitude this world would truly rock! #SPOTY2015
— Lou (@lukbon) December 20, 2015
Bailey Matthews, you absolute star, you just reduced me to tears #SPOTY2015
— Ian Wood (@wood3528) December 20, 2015
