The announcement comes at the end of a memorable year for the fighter from Liverpool , crowned world champion in May, just months after suffering a second anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The 24-year-old suffered the first in 2011, meaning her weight category was not selected as one in which Britain could compete at London 2012.

After suffering a second such injury at last year's World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) Grand Prix in Suzhou, a return to the pinnacle of the sport appeared unlikely.  

She achieved that, however, with victory against France’s Gwladys Epangue in the final of the women’s over 73 kilogram category at the World Taekwondo Championships in Chelyabinsk.

Walkden became only the second Briton to win a world title after Sarah Stevenson in 2001 and 2011, and the third to win a global title after Stevenson and Jade Jones' Olympic success in 2012.

"I feel very happy to be named as athlete of the year and hopefully I can keep going and do even better for next year," said Walkden, who ends the year ranked third in the world having also qualified a quota place for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

"It’s been such a great year; my highlights have been winning the World Championships after everything and qualifying a spot for the Olympics - I can’t choose one.

"My success is really down to the great team I have behind me; my coach Paul Green and the great support staff.

"I’ve had a good plan in order achieve what I have and the team has continuously pushed me all the way.

"Last time in the lead up to London, I didn’t cope with my injury very well but this time I knew I wasn’t going to let it affect me.

"No matter what happened I still believed I could win."

Previous winners of the award include newly-crowned WTF Grand Prix Final champion Lutalo Muhammad, in 2013, and Olympic champion Jones, last year.

The winners of the Player of the Year awards for juniors and cadets have also been announced. 

Bradly Sinden and Leah Moorby have claimed the respective men’s and women’s junior awards, while Mason Yarrow and Jordyn Smith have taken the cadet honours.

Following on from his junior and senior success at the National Championships, Sinden recorded impressive wins at both the Junior Europeans and the Dutch Open.

Moorby achieved a bronze medal at this year’s Junior Europeans and was also the youngest member of the team to represent Britain at the European Under-21 Championships.

The SportsAid athlete is also the reigning national champion in the under 59kg weight division and a Dutch Open medallist.

Yarrow, meanwhile, has managed to retain his title having claimed bronze at the Cadet Worlds, won at the National Championships and also gained medals at both the Spanish and Dutch Opens.

Teenager Smith, recently named the "Most developed Scottish sportsperson of the year" by SportsAid, won gold at the Cadet Europeans before medalling at the Cadet Worlds, and also won the Spanish and Dutch Opens.

"Leah has continued to impress throughout the year and has asserted her position as a junior for 2015," said talent pathway manager Steve Green.

"Similarly, Bradly dominated at this year’s nationals by claiming both senior and junior titles.

"He has fought at under 63kg all year and has excelled a great deal.

"In terms of our cadets, Jordyn has been highly successful on the European circuit and Mason has shown ability, commitment and resilience and it is for these reasons we would like recognise all of their hard work and achievements."