Canvey decathlete Dean Macey celebrated his 22nd birthday yesterday by picking up the inaugural best newcomer award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year show.

Macey broke six personal best on his way to silver in the World Championships in Seville in August to give Britain a new athletics hero. After picking up his award Macey told viewers:

"I'd just like to say that I would not have done it without the backing I have had from everyone like sponsors and stuff like that, but mainly from my family and girlfriend - the people that don't show.

"They're all back stage and they work just as hard as me. I've got the easy job on the track, so I'd just like to thank them as well as everyone else."

The BBC award is the culmination of hard work that has seen Macey come back from a two-year injury hell to emerge as a medal hopeful for next year's Olympic Games in Sydney.

Macey had success in the Australian city in 1996 when he won silver in the World Junior Championships.

His fitness anguish began two years ago when he tore a hamstring in the European under-23 Championships.

This was followed by a niggling foot injury which needed a bone graft operation.

Appearing in his first decathlon for three years in Arles, France, Macey scored 8,347 points.

But he crashed out of the European under-23 Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, in August on the second day after going into the lead with a score of 4,358 from day one.

However, Macey - currently ranked as the world number three - went to Seville determined to show what he could do.

He was lying third after day one before getting the 20 second advantage over American Chris Huffins that he needed in the 1500m to take silver at the World Championships.

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