2016 BBC Sports Personality of the Year - Shortlist of 16 announced

Andy Murray is the strongest favourite in the history of BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year contest after a shortlist of 16 was announced, mainly celebrating the stars of the Rio Olympics.

After winning 2016 Wimbledon, 2016 Rio Olympic gold and becoming world No 1 for the first time, Andy Murray could make history again by becoming the first person to win the SPOTY trophy three times.

The 29-year-old will not attend the event at Birmingham’s Genting Arena on December 18,2016  because he will be in Miami, Florida where he and his team hold their annual pre-season training camp.

SHORTLIST FOR BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2016

 

 

1)Nicola Adams, OBE

Sport: Boxing

Age: 34

Honours in 2016:

Won gold in the Flyweight division at the 2016 Rio Olympics and won World Amateur Championship.

Why have they been nominated?

Double Olympic Champion became first British boxer to retain the gold medal in 92 years.

2)Gareth Bale

Sport: Football

Age: 27

Honours in 2016:

Champions League winner and Welsh Footballer of the Year 2016.

Why have they been nominated?

Real Madrid forward inspired Wales into the Euro 2016 semi-finals.

3)Alistair Brownlee, MBE

Sport: Triathlon

Age: 28

Honours in 2016:

Won gold in the Triathlon at the 2016 Rio Olympics, 2016 ITU World Championship Triathlon winner, and 2016 Cozumel ITU Aquathlon winner.

Why have they been nominated?

Successfully defended his gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and helped his brother, Jonny, get over the finishing line in the World Triathlon Series.

4)Sophie Christiansen, OBE

Sport: Equestrian

Age: 29

Honours in 2016:

Won gold in the Freestyle test grade la, Championship test grade la and the Team Championship at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

Why have they been nominated?

Earned triple gold at this summer’s Paralympics, leaving her with a grand total of 10 Paralympic medals in Equestrianism.

5)Kadeena Cox

Sport: Athletics/Cycling

Age: 25

Honours in 2016:

Won Gold in the Women’s C4/C5 500 metres time-trial and the Women’s T38 400m at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

Why have they been nominated?

The Paralympian became the first British athlete in 28 years old to win gold medals in two sports at a single Games.

6)Mo Farah

Age: 33

Sport: Athletics

Honours in 2016:

Gold medallist in the 10,000 metres and 5,000 metres at Rio 2016 Olympics.

Why have they been nominated?

After his successes at Rio 2016, Farah is first ever Briton to have won four athletic Olympic gold medals.

7)Jason Kenny, OBE

Sport: Cycling

Age: 28

Honours in 2016:

First in World Track Championships, won gold in team sprint, individual sprint and keirin at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Why have they been nominated?

Kenny, joint with Chris Hoy, is the bearer of six Olympic gold medals, more than any other GB athlete.

8)Laura Kenny, OBE

Sport: Cycling

Age: 24

Honours in 2016:

First in Omnium and Scratch race at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships 2016 and won gold in Team Pursuit and Omnium at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Why have they been nominated?

This year saw the cyclist become the most successful female British Olympian with her four golds.

9)Andy Murray, OBE

Sport: Tennis

Age: 29

Honours in 2016:

Won nine titles including a second Wimbledon and gold in the Men’s Singles at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Why have they been nominated?

The three-time Grand Slam Champion enjoyed his best year yet, being crowned the world’s new No 1 after beating Novak Djokovic at the ATP World Tour Finals.

10)Adam Peaty

Sport: Swimming

Age: 21

Honours in 2016:

Won gold in 100 metre breaststroke at the 2016 Rio Olympics, British Swimmer of the Year and Overall Athlete of the Year at the British Swimming Awards.

Why have they been nominated?

The 21-year-old smashed his own world record to claim gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

11)Kate Richardson-Walsh, MBE

Sport: Hockey

Age: 36

Honours in 2016:

Won gold in hockey at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Why have they been nominated?

Team GB captain become the most capped female in Great Britain earlier this year, overtaking Karen Brown who had 355 caps.

12)Nick Skelton

Age: 58

Sport: Equestrian

Honours in 2016:

2016 Rio Olympics Individual Equestrian gold medallist.

Why have they been nominated?

Having won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, remarkably Skelton became the oldest British gold medal winner since 1908, at the age of 58.

13)Dame Sarah Storey

Age: 39

Sport: Cycling

Honours in 2016:

Won the 14th gold medal of her career at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

Why have they been nominated?

Became Britain's most successful female Paralympian after this year’s event in Rio 2016.

14)Jamie Vardy

Age: 29

Honours in 2016:

Premier League title 2015-16, Premier League Player of the Season 2015-16, FWA Footballer of the Year 2015-16.

Why have they been nominated?

Within four years, Vardy went from playing in the Conference Premier to striking 24 goals in Leicester City’s title-winning Premier League campaign.

15)Max Whitlock

Age: 23

Honours in 2016:

Won gold in both individual floor exercise and individual pommel horse at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Why have they been nominated?

Whitlock became the first ever British gymnast to win an individual gold, and he is now the most decorated British Olympic gymnast.

16)Danny Willett

Age: 29

Sport: Golf

2016 Honours: Won Masters Tournament at Augusta.

Why have they been nominated?

Willet won the Masters this year making him the first British player to do so for 20 years.