Rory McIlroy holds again tears throughout SPOTY interview discussing his daughter
Rory McIlroy struggled to hold back tears during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards after being asked about being a father to daughter Poppy
Rory McIlroy was visibly moved as he paid tribute to Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe at tonight’s Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) awards.
The two fathers ran the London Marathon in memory of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar and Bebe King, who tragically lost their lives in a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop in Southport in July 2024.
Aguiar and Stancombe are committed to creating enduring legacies for their daughters through initiatives such as Elsie’s Story, Alice’s WonderDance and Bebe’s Hive. Both fathers delivered heartfelt speeches upon receiving the Helen Rollason Award for 2025.
Sergio Aguiar, Alice’s father, expressed his gratitude: “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.”
He added, “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, shared: “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.”
He continued, “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 main prize of Sports Personality of the Year, following an extraordinary year on the golf circuit. He finally brought an 11-year wait for the Grand Slam to a close, overcoming Justin Rose in a nail-biting finale to claim the Masters.
When asked how fatherhood has altered his perspective on this year’s accomplishments, McIlroy struggled to contain his emotions, stating: “I think being a father of a little girl, seeing the dads up there tonight, they are absolute heroes.”
After gathering himself, he continued: “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.”
He becomes only the sixth golfer in the modern era to secure a career Grand Slam, entering an exclusive group featuring Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. The 36-year-old also delivered dominant displays during Europe’s Ryder Cup victory, withstanding a barrage of hostile comments from the crowd.
Luke Donald’s team overcame the hosts in a rare away success, with their united squad defeating a talent-packed USA team whilst US president Donald Trump looked on – alongside millions of television viewers. He also clinched titles 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.
