2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award was announced as footballer Ryan Giggs. Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button was runner up, with world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis voted third. As part of the 2009 ceremony, awards were also to be presented for: 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award The 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, held on 13 December, was the 56th presentation of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. Awarded annually by the BBC, the main titular award honours an individual's British sporting achievement over the past year. The winner is selected by public vote from a 10-person shortlist.
Jenson Button had competed in more races than Button before winning the World Championship. Button wrote a book about his 2009 season, entitled "My Championship Year", which was published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on 19 November 2009. On 30 November 2009, Button was announced as one of the ten men and women shortlisted for the 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. At the awards ceremony on 13 December 2009, Button was awarded second place. On 6 December, Button won the BBC West Country's Sports Personality of the Year at the University of Bath. He won the main award against racehorse