BBC sports personality of the year shortlist announced

ANDY Murray is a strong favourite to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award after the 12-person shortlist was announced on Monday November 30. 

Capturing gold in the heptathlon in Beijing only a year after having her first child saw athlete Jessica Ennis soar to the front at 2-1 until Britain unexpectedly won the Davis Cup under Murray. Tyson Fury also became a late addition to a packed field after capturing THE IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight titles from Wladimir Klitschko in a startling upset. 

Meanwhile Mo Farah cemented his credentials with a double gold at the world athletics championships in the 5,000m and 10,000m; Lewis Hamilton equalled Sir Jackie Stewart’s British record of three world titles and he moved to third in the all-time list of victories for any driver in Formula One; and Chris Froome won the Tour de France yet again.

Outside the top runners, 20-year-old swimmer Adam Peaty won three golds at the world championships and is already Britain’s most successful swimmer; Greg Rutherford is the  current Olympic, World, European, Commonwealth and Diamond League long jump champion; Rugby League star Kevin Sinfield captained Leeds to an historic treble; Lucy Bronze was instrumental in the England women’s football team reaching the world cup semi-finals; cyclist Lizzie Armitstead sensationally won the world road race title; and Max Whitlock became Britain’s first male world gymnastics champion. 

The winner will be revealed during a live show in Belfast on December 20.