Rory McIlroy battled to keep his emotions in check as he paid tribute to Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe at this evening’s Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) ceremony. The two fathers completed the London Marathon in memory of their daughters, Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar and Bebe King, who were tragically murdered at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport in July 2024.
The fathers are determined to create enduring memorials for their daughters; through initiatives including Elsie’s Story, Alice’s WonderDance and Bebe’s Hive. Both men delivered heartfelt addresses after being presented with the Helen Rollason Award for 2025.
Sergio Aguiar, Alice’s father, said: “Thank you everyone for the award it means a lot to me, my wife, and my princess Alice. 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’m going to keep running and raising money for her foundation.”
Elsie’s father, Stancombe, said: “I’m very grateful to accept the award tonight, but I’m just a dad who’s keeping his promise to his little girl. Elsie wanted me to run the London Marathon – and I did. It gave me a massive focus during the hardest times I’ve ever lived through.
“It also gave me an opportunity to demonstrate a fraction of the bravery and determination Elsie showed. I’d just like to thank everyone who made it possible. My wife Jenny, too. She runs a marathon every day. I couldn’t do it without her.”
McIlroy is in contention for the coveted Sports Personality of the Year award following an extraordinary season on the golf course. The Northern Irishman finally broke an 11-year drought to complete the career Grand Slam, edging past Justin Rose in a nail-biting finale to claim the Masters.
When questioned about how fatherhood has influenced his perspective on this year’s accomplishments, McIlroy became visibly emotional, stating: “I think being a father of a little girl, seeing the dads up there tonight, they are absolute heroes.”
After pausing to compose himself, he continued: “Me being a dad, it makes the losses a lot easier. It makes the wins even more special to be able to share that with Erica [wife] and Poppy [daughter]. My family, they’ve watched me go through all of this like I’m sure a lot of the public has. I feel like everyone’s been on this journey with me.”
The 36-year-old has become only the sixth golfer in the modern era to achieve a career Grand Slam, joining an exclusive group featuring Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. McIlroy also delivered stunning displays during Europe’s Ryder Cup victory, weathering hostile treatment from the crowd.
Luke Donald’s team pulled off a stunning away victory against the hosts, with their united squad overcoming a talent-laden USA team while president Donald Trump looked on alongside millions of TV viewers. He also clinched victories at the Players Championship, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Irish Open, before capping off an extraordinary year with his seventh Race to Dubai title.