One of Nikki Rollason’s most endearing childhood memories is of her mother in the living room, surrounded by the back pages of newspapers.
“It was just part of our lives – she was doing research, she was really curious, and she wanted to make sure the work she was doing was the absolute best,” Nikki says.
Helen Rollason was a pioneer in sports broadcasting as the first woman to present the BBC’s flagship show on the stand. She also presented coverage of the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Wimbledon and the Commonwealth Games.
After she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1997, which later spread to her liver and lungs, Rollason continued to appear in sports bulletins on BBC News.
She died two years later at the age of 43, but her legacy lives on. This year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year sees the Helen Rollason Award – which recognizes outstanding achievement in the face of adversity – celebrate its 25th anniversary.
“My mom was so humble, she would be really shocked that it’s still going on 25 years later, but we’re really proud of that legacy,” says Nikki, who was 16 when her mom died.
“Mom was a trailblazer and for me this award really captures that, but I also love the fact that it also reflects her spirit and attitude – that she said, ‘Yes, something happened, but we have to keep going, and what can I do? to make it better?
“It’s a really wonderful feeling that her name is still known. Of course, it’s a little different over the years, but we still remember it. It means a lot to us.”
