Tanni tops poll

Tanni Grey-Thompson in medal-winning action

Tanni Grey-Thompson won the coveted BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2000 at a star-studded ceremony at Cardiff's St David's Hall on Monday night.

The Paralympic sensation won four gold medals in Sydney and was presented with the award by rower Steve Redgrave - who won his fifth Olympic gold in Australia.

Another successful Olympian - yachtsman Ian Barker - claimed third place after impressing BBC Wales' panel of top sporting experts Arthur Emyr, JJ Williams, Ian Walsh, Dai Gardiner, Anne Ellis and Lyn Davies.

Barker, who is a member of the Penarth club, won a silver medal in the 49ers class, claiming Wales' only medal at Sydney.

Second place went to World snooker champion Mark Williams, who capped a fantastic 2000 with a startling comeback in the all-Welsh final at the Crucible against Matthew Stevens.

The prize went to athletics for the second year in succession following Colin Jackson's triumph in 1999.