London, Dec. 15: Triple Olympic champion Chris Hoy delivered one of the shocks of the sporting year on Sunday night when he overcame Lewis Hamilton and Rebecca Adlington to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Hoy''s remarkable achievement in collecting three sprint titles in China made him Britain''s most successful Olympian in a century, but the Scot was only third-favourite to win on Sunday night, reports The Telegraph.

Hoy''s achievement was not lost on the public who vote for the award winner. He was a hugely popular choice among the 9,000 spectators in the Echo Arena in Liverpool.