<P> Four people have won the award more than once : tennis player Andy Murray is the only person to have won the first place award three times ( in addition to the Young Sports Personality and Team awards ) , while boxer Henry Cooper and Formula One drivers Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill have each won twice . Snooker player Steve Davis has finished in the top three a record five times . Jessica Ennis - Hill holds the record for most podiums without a win ; having finished four times in the top three , after failing the make the shortlist for the 2016 award , having announced her retirement from athletics beforehand , Ennis - Hill is statistically the most successful sportsperson never to have won the award . In 2017 Ennis - Hill was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award . </P>
<P> Four people have won the award more than once : tennis player Andy Murray is the only person to have won the first place award three times ( in addition to the Young Sports Personality and Team awards ) , while boxer Henry Cooper and Formula One drivers Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill have each won twice . Snooker player Steve Davis has finished in the top three a record five times . Jessica Ennis - Hill holds the record for most podiums without a win ; having finished four times in the top three , after failing the make the shortlist for the 2016 award , having announced her retirement from athletics beforehand , Ennis - Hill is statistically the most successful sportsperson never to have won the award . In 2017 Ennis - Hill was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award . </P>
who has won the most sports personality of the year
who has won the most sports personality of the year
tennis player Andy Murray
tennis player Andy Murray