BRADLEY Wiggins was last night crowned the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year, capping off a stunning 2012 that saw him become the first British Tour de France winner and clinch an Olympic gold medal.

Wiggins was presented with his award by the Duchess of Cambridge, who was attending her first public engagement since announcing she was pregnant earlier this month.

The favourite for the award beat Olympic gold medal-winning heptathlete Jessica Ennis, who was second, and Scottish tennis star Andy Murray, who came third.

The cyclist said: "I will say thank you to everyone who voted. What a year, to stand on this stage with the people next to me is incredible.

"I'd like to thank my team-mates – I wouldn't be on this stage without them.

"I'd like to thank David Brailsford, the coaches, British Cycling, Team Sky and all the Olympians. There is a free bar round the back paid for by the BBC, so we are all going round there tonight."

It is the second year in a row a cyclist has won the award, after Mark Cavendish's 2011 success.

Britain's sporting elite had gathered to celebrate their greatest ever year at the ExCel Arena in London, and the night became a procession marking stunning achievements. These included the gold-winning performance of the country's Olympic and Paralympic athletes, the triumph of the European Ryder Cup team and Murray becoming the first British man to win a grand slam singles title for 76 years at the US Open.

Speaking from Miami, Murray, who also won gold in the Olympic tennis singles, said of his historic US win: "I felt pressure a few times [to win a Grand Slam]. It has been a long road the last few years, I have had a lot of losses so it was great to win and move on with the rest of my career.

"It is still a little bit of a blur, I have never been in that position before and I think I built it up so much in my head that when it came to it I didn't find it that bad. I can't remember what went through my head but I was so relieved to win. It was an amazing feeling to finally do it."

Sprinter Usain Bolt, who won gold in the 100 and 200 metres at the London Olympics, was named BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.

He said: "I have really worked hard. It is an honour to get this award. I will continue to work hard and do my best to make everybody proud – friends, family and fans. Thank you very much." Wiggins was the bookmakers' odds-on favourite after his historic triumph in the Tour de France and gold in the Olympics time trial.

Mo Farah, double gold medallist in the 5000 metres and 10,000m, was third favourite.

The first award went to Josef Craig, 15, who was crowned Young Sports Personality of the Year. Josef, who has cerebral palsy, became the youngest Paralympic gold medallist at London 2012 after smashing his own world record in the 400m freestyle S7 final.

The team award went to Britain's Olympic and Paralympic teams in recognition of their contributions to the greatest of all sporting summers. Team GB won 65 medals at the Olympics, including 29 golds, while the Paralympians added 34 titles. Both squads finished third in the medal tables at their home Games.

Martine Wright, who lost her legs in the London bombings on July 7, 2005 and competed in the sitting volleyball at the 2012 Paralympics, won the Helen Rollason Award.

The award is presented in memory of the BBC presenter who died in 1999 at the age of 43 after suffering from cancer, and is given for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.

Wright said: "I am absolutely honoured to be here. I count myself lucky to have survived that awful day, and that I've made an incredible journey the last seven years." She thanked the emergency services and medical staff, and added: "I will never forget the 52 people that sadly lost their lives, so this is definitely for them as well."