Three-time British Olympic cycling gold medalist Chris Hoy was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday, beating swimmer Rebecca Adlington and Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton among nine rivals.

The 32-year-old Hoy became Britain’s first three-time Olympic winner since 1908 at the Beijing Games. He is also the first cyclist to win the prestigious award - voted on by viewers of the BBC awards ceremony - since Tommy Simpson in 1965.

“I really wasn’t expecting this, it’s such a shock,” Hoy said. “After the year I have had, this is unbelievable. Looking at the other names on this trophy, this is the big one.”

Hoy was flanked by athletics greats Sebastian Coe and Michael Johnson when given the award and made no secret of his admiration for the pair.

“British sport has enjoyed one of the best years in my lifetime and has had so many successful athletes,” Hoy said. “To be standing here in front of these two, and all 10 nominees, is incredible.”

Hamilton, the youngest ever F1 champion, was runner-up for the second consecutive year, while Adlington, a two-time Olympic swimming champion and the bookmakers’ favourite, was third.

Usain Bolt of Jamaica took the Overseas Sports Personality of the Year category after winning the 100, 200 and 4x100-metre gold medals in Beijing, all in world-record times. He beat US swimmer Michael Phelps, who made history by winning eight gold medals in Beijing.