"The only one I haven't won to date is the World Championship and that is my goal.

"Thereafter I hope to compete at the Commonweath Games in 2002 - an international competition at home would be fantastic."

The other short-listed contenders for the prize were fellow Olympic champions Stephanie Cook (modern pentathalon) and Shirley Robertson (Europe class sailing).

Lewis has already been honoured as female athlete of the year by UK Athletics and the British Athletics Writers' Association.

Other winners honoured at The Gibson Hall included Europe's Solheim Cup team who took the Team of the Year award for their victory over the United States at Loch Lomond.

Achievements

The Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration, presented by the late BBC sports presenter's daughter Nikki, went to wheelchair athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson, who won four Paralympic gold's in Sydney.

The award for Administrator/Coach of the Year was presented to Di Ellis, Chair of the Amateur Rowing Association, by Matthew Pinsent - one of British rowing's many medallists in Australia.

The Sunday Times Awards celebrate the achievements of women at all levels of sport, from past and present Olympians, to students and the coaches/administrators who work behind the scenes.