England and Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps wants “to change the world” after being named Sports Personality of the Year 2023.
Earps, 30, topped the public vote, with cricketer Stuart Broad coming second and world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson third.
She is the second women’s footballer in succession to win the BBC award after Arsenal forward Beth Mead in 2022.
“I’m trying to be a game changer,” Earps told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I’m trying to change the world in whatever small time that I’m here. I enjoy the responsibility of being a role model, I try to inspire as many people as possible – young, old, whatever,” Earps said.
“I want people to relate to me and my journey, see that I’m just a normal person trying to live out her dream.
“I’m trying [to make goalkeeping cool]. It’s happening, it’s happening. Slowly but surely – it’s the Merps mission. Goalkeeping is cool!”
Earps was the Lionesses’ standout player as they reached a first World Cup final in the summer and was rewarded with the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper at the tournament.
“It’s actually unbelievable to think that this isn’t a football award, it’s an all round sporting award and it’s generic across the country,” she said.
“It’s not just about what I’ve achieved in football, it’s something bigger than that and that’s really humbling and grounding. I’m going to take some time to really reflect on that and what it means.”
The Fifa Best Women’s Goalkeeper was voted England Women’s Player of the Year for 2022-23 and finished fifth in the voting for the Ballon d’Or award.
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