Emotional Rory McIlroy pays tribute to SPOTY ‘heroes’ whose daughters were killed in Southport attack

Rory McIlroy fought back the tears as he paid tribute to ‘heroes’ David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar at tonight’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.

David and Sergio, whose young daughters Elsie, 7, and Alice, 9, were among the victims of last year’s mass stabbing in Southport, had been presented with the Helen Rollason Award earlier in the night.

Six-year-old Bebe King also lost her life in the killing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop in July 2024.

In April, less than a year on from the horrendous events that took place, Sergio and David were among the 56,000 participants to cross the line at the 2025 London Marathon.

Sergio ran to raise money to help build a new playground at Churchtown Primary School, where Alice and Bebe had both been pupils.

David, meanwhile, completed the 26 gruelling miles to generate the funds for Elsie’s Story, and the inspirational pair were presented with their award by Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler and comedian John Bishop.

‘I’m very grateful to accept the award tonight but I’m just a dad keeping a promise to his little girl,’ David said after he was handed the prize which recognises outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.

‘Elsie wanted me to run the London Marathon and I did. It gave me a massive focus through the hardest time I’ve ever lived through.’

An understandably emotional Sergio added: ‘I want to dedicate this award to our three girls: Alice, Elsie and Bebe. Keep dancing.

‘I want to spread Alice’s magic across the world. I am going to keep running and raising money for her foundation.’

Shortly after David and Sergio left the stage to a warm applause at BBC Sport’s headquarters in Salford, golfing superstar McIlroy was invited up to share a few words with co-host Clare Balding.

McIlroy, the bookmakers’ favourite to win the main prize after a glittering 12 months, started by discussing his unforgettable triumph at the Masters in April.

‘As Lando [Norris] said in his piece, I didn’t make it easy for myself. I think when you want something so much the obstacle becomes yourself,’ the Northern Irishman said.

‘I’ve had my chances at Augusta, I’ve been trying for 14 or 15 years to get that done.

‘I think when you go through the heartbreaks and everything I went through, even the way it finished in April, it just made it even sweeter.’

It was when Balding, sharing hosting duties Gabby Logan and Alex Scott, mentioned family that McIlroy became overwhelmed by emotion.

Asked how being father had changed his outlook on his achievements in golf, a teary McIlroy replied: ‘I think being the father of a little girl, seeing Alice and Elsie’s dads up there tonight, they are two absolute heroes.

‘Being a dad, it makes the losses a lot easier. But it also makes the good moments even more special.

‘So to be able to share that with Erica and Poppy and my whole family, they’ve watched me go through all this, just like a lot of the public has.

‘I’m sure everyone has been on this journey with me and I could feel everyone with me on that day.’

Watching back the clip, that went massively viral, of his daughter Poppy sinking a massive putt at Augusta, McIlroy added: ‘That Wednesday at Augusta is always one of the most fun days of the year.

‘;We do it with the Fleetwoods [Tommy and Clare], who are here, and their son Frankie, and Shane’s [Lowry] two daughters and Poppy as well.

‘So it’s always one of the most fun days of the year.’

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