BBC SPORT | Sports Personality 2002 | Rooney voted top youngster


Young Sports Personality
Wayne Rooney

Everton striker Wayne Rooney has landed the coveted title of BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.

Everton striker Wayne Rooney with the Young Sports Personality award
Rooney made his Everton debut in August

The award caps a remarkable few months for the 17-year-old wonderkid, who has been touted by many as the most promising English football talent to have surfaced in recent years.

His precocious skills came to the fore back in October when he scored a stunning winner against Premiership champions Arsenal, having come off the substitutes' bench.

Next to feel the wrath of Rooney were Leeds. The burly star played the supersub role again when his mazy run and finish gave Everton their first league victory for 51 years.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Rooney is the brightest prospect in English football, while Newcastle United boss Sir Bobby Robson called the teenager, "a jewel in the crown".

Sport Academy
Rooney: Boy in a man's body

The nominations for the award were shortlisted down to three, with shooter Charlotte Kerwood and gymnast Becky Owen making up the trio.

Kerwood, became England's youngest shooting medallist when she won gold in the women's double trap in the Commonwealth Games.

While Owen, was the youngest member of the England team, collecting silver medals in the team event and the individual floor event at the Games.

It is the second year the Young Sports Personality of the Year award has been presented. The inaugural winner was 16-year-old sprinter Amy Spencer.


	Links to more Sports Personality 2002 stories