Sports Personality of the Year 2024: Helen Rollason Award celebrates 25th year
One of Nikki Rollason’s most endearing childhood memories is of her mom in the break room, surrounded by newspaper back pages.
“It’s just part of our lives – she does research and is really curious and wants to make sure the work she’s doing is the absolute best,” Nikki said.
Helen Rollason was a trailblazer in sports broadcasting and the first woman to host the BBC’s flagship Grandstand show. She has also presented coverage of the Olympics, Paralympics, Wimbledon and Commonwealth Games.
In 1997, Rollason was diagnosed with colon cancer, which subsequently spread to her liver and lungs, and she went on to feature sports news on BBC News.
She died two years later at the age of 43, but her legacy lives on. At this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, the Helen Rollason Award celebrated its 25th anniversary, recognizing outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.
“My mum was very humble and I think she would be quite shocked that it’s still the same 25 years later, but we’re really proud of the legacy,” said Nikki, who was just 16 when her mum died.
“Mum is a trailblazer and for me this award really embodies that, but I also love that it also embodies her spirit and attitude – the fact that she said: ‘Yes, something happened , but we need to move on, what can I do to make things better?
“It’s great to feel like her name is still there. Obviously, things are a little different over time, but she’s still remembered. That means a lot to us.”
