VIKKI ORVICE has been honoured posthumously for her services to athletics coverage across the world.
SunSport’s respected and much-loved athletics writer tragically died from cancer in February at the age of 56.
Vikki Orvice has been honoured for her contribution to athletics coverageCredit: Jim Keogh
Husband Ian Ridley received the award on Vikki Orvice’s behalfCredit: AFP
Vikki covered track-and-field since 2000 and attended every major event, including the crowning glory of the London 2012 Olympics.
On Saturday, husband Ian Ridley received the President’s Award on her behalf from close pal Lord Coe at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco.
Ridley said: “As athletics correspondent of The Sun, Vikki persuaded the newspaper to back London’s 2012 Olympic bid.
“The paper was read by ten million people a day at that time and had a huge influence on public opinion in Great Britain.
“The London Games gave her the finest moment of her career when Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford won gold for Great Britain in 45 minutes on Super Saturday.
“She would be proud, delighted and overwhelmed to receive this award as I am on behalf of a woman I grow ever prouder of as the time goes on.
“This sport was good to her. And I’d like to think Vikki Orvice was good to this sport. Thank you IAAF and Lord Sebastian Coe.”
Vikki was the first female staff sports reporter on a national tabloid newspaper when she joined The Sun in 1995.
Anna Kessel, co-founder of ‘Women in Football’ pays tribute to The Sun’s trailblazing sports journalist Vikki Orvice, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 55
Source: Athletics - thesun.co.uk
