Rory McIlroy cut an emotional figure when paying tribute to two inspiring award winners at the Sports Personality of the Year ceremony.
The Helen Rollason award is named after the late BBC Sport journalist and acknowledges ‘outstanding achievement in the face of adversity’.
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Sergio Aguiar and Stancombe, fathers of two victims of the horrifying Southport attack, won the Helen Rollason award for their inspirational workCredit: BBC
Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe were the recipients this year.
Their daughters Alice da Silva Aguiar and Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Bebe King, were tragically killed in the horrifying Southport attack in 2024.
All three families have worked to build lasting legacies through their projects Alice’s WonderDance, Elsie’s Story and Bebe’s Hive.
Sergio and David ran the 2025 London Marathon in their memory, with money being raised for a new playground at Alice and Bebe’s school.
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On Thursday night, they were presented with the award by comedian John Bishop and Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler.
On the same night he was named the Sports Personality of the Year, McIlroy had some touching words for the two fathers.
“I think being a father of a little girl, seeing Alice and Elsie’s dads up there tonight, they are two absolute heroes,” he said.
McIlroy began tearing up and had to take a brief pause, and was met with a round of applause from the audience.
“You know, being a dad, it makes the losses a lot easier,” he continued.
“But it also makes the good moments even more special, you know?
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McIlroy needed a moment to compose himself as he paid a touching tribute
“So to share that with Erica and Poppy, and my whole family, they’ve watched me go through all of this.
“I’m sure a lot of the public has, and I feel like everyone’s been on this journey with me.
“As you know, I could feel everyone with me on that day [when he won the Masters].”
‘I want to dedicate this award to our three girls’
After receiving the Helen Rollason award, both Sergio and David took time to pay their own tributes to Alice, Elsie and Bebe.
“I’m very grateful to accept the award tonight but I’m just a dad keeping a promise to his little girl,” David said.
“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.”
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Aguiar and Stancombe ran the London Marathon in memory of their daughtersCredit: BBC
“I want to dedicate this award to our three girls: Alice, Elsie and Bebe. Keep dancing,” Sergio added.
“I want to spread Alice’s magic across the world. I am going to keep running and raising money for her foundation.”