Andy Murray’s drive to improve shows why he won Sports Personality of the Year 2016
HOW does Andy Murray top the best year of his life? Well, even he does not seem to know.
The reason why Murray missed the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony is the reason why he won it in the first place — he never stops trying to do better.
World no 1 Muzza, 29, has never seemed so happy in his own skin, having achieved so much in 2016 and with a knighthood likely to kick off 2017 with a bang.
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Speaking from his Miami training base, he said: “It will be really hard to top this year. It’s possible that everything doesn’t go perfectly next year. I need to be able to deal with that.
“That’s why I’m over here training, working and getting myself in shape so that I can start 2017 as best as possible.”
But if all does not go to plan, Murray can look to the SPOTY runner-up for some perspective.
Asked who would have got his vote, Murray said Alistair Brownlee, as much for his act of sportsmanship in helping brother Jonny as for retaining his Olympic triathlon title.
He added: “What he did with his brother gave a really important message.
“It showed that sport is not only about winning.”
Another SPOTY nominee ADAM PEATY has been backed to be a dominant force in swimming — by Lifetime Award winner Michael Phelps.
The American, who has a staggering 23 Olympic gold medals, admitted: “I am excited to watch Adam going forward.”