Dan Carter wins prestigious BBC award

Dan Carter with the William Webb Ellis Cup. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Dan Carter has defeated world-class competition to take home the 2015 BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year award.

Carter triumphed over some of the biggest names in sport, such as Usain Bolt, Jordan Spieth, Novak Djokovic, Katie Ledecky and Serena Williams, after the prestigious award was decided by a public vote for the first time.

He becomes the second New Zealander to win the honour, after Jonah Lomu in 1995, and is also only the second rugby player ever to take home the gong.

"I'm thrilled to have been voted BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year by the UK public," said Carter.

"It's been an incredible year for me on British soil and the support has been phenomenal. It was an incredibly competitive shortlist and I'm honoured to have been recognised alongside these great sportsmen and women from around the world."

Congrats to Dan Carter - he's been named 2015 BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year! https://t.co/I8x5nKj2eS pic.twitter.com/JPjBYVaU6F

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 19, 2015

Carter was recognised for his superb showings in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, being a crucial member of the World Cup-winning All Blacks after missing the knockout stage due to injury in 2011.

The award was won last year by Cristiano Ronaldo. Earlier winners include three-time recipients Bolt, Muhammad Ali and Roger Federer, as well as Tiger Woods.