1983 Winner
STEVE CRAM [Athletics]
Cram, along with Steve Ovett and Seb Coe, completed Britain's great middle-distance triumvirate of the 1980s. In 1983 Cram narrowly beat world record holder Ovett in the inaugural World Championship 1500m. Another winner who went on to work for the BBC.
1984 Winner
JAYNE TORVILL AND CHRISTOPHER DEAN [Ice Dancing]
The British ice dancing pair of Torvill and Dean gave the performance of their lives in 1984, when all nine judges awarded them the perfect six scores at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics. That gold cemented their place among Britain's most enduring sports stars.
1985 Winner
BARRY McGUIGAN [Boxing]
In 1985 McGuigan met Eusebio Pedroza for the WBA world featherweight title in London. After going the full distance, Pedroza was finally beaten on points, with the judges deciding unanimously that the popular Irishman was the new title holder.
1986 Winner
NIGEL MANSELL [Motor Racing]
Mansell narrowly missed out on the Formula One title in 1986 after his tyre dramatically blew out during the last race of the season, the Australian Grand Prix. He finished second to Alain Prost - but Mansell's world title success was to follow six years later.
1987 Winner
FATIMA WHITBREAD [Athletics]
Fatima Whitbread set new records for javelin throwing in 1985 and 1986, when she was involved in a fascinating all-British rivalry with 1984 Olympic champion Tessa Sanderson. But her greatest achievement was her World Championship win in 1987.