Angelo d'Arrigo, the Italian hang-glider known as the "Human Condor" who was killed in an air crash in March, was posthumously given the alternative sportsperson's award.
As well as his medals from Sydney and world record records, earlier this year Connor won the prestigious World Disability Sportsperson of the year at the Laureus Sports Awards.
Spencer's steely determination has already made her one of England's most successful captains or, as one newspaper put it, 'probably the most successful sportsperson that you've never heard of'.