ANTHONY JOSHUA AND Lewis Hamilton lead the shortlist for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year award which was announced this evening.
Joshua has emerged as the firm favourite for the 2017 award but faces stiff competition from Hamilton and Tour de France winner Chris Froome, with England striker Harry Kane also among the 12 nominees.
After storming to his third consecutive world 10,000 metre gold, Mo Farah is nominated while Johanna Konta, who became the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon single semi-finals since Virgina Wade in 1978, is shortlisted.
Swimmer Adam Peaty, cricketer Anya Shrubsole, Taekwondo world champion Bianca Walkden, Northern Irish motorcyclist Jonathan Rea, speed skater Elise Christie and para-athlete Jonnie Peacook are the other contenders.
But the bookmakers have installed Joshua as the leading contender after an imperious year in the ring which saw him defeat Wladimir Klitschko with an 11th-round stoppage in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in April and then defend his WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles against Carlos Takam.
With a fourth world title, Hamilton became Britain’s most successful Formula 1 driver of all time and is in the running to win the award for the second time having won it in 2014. He has also come second twice, in 2007 and 2008.
The winner will be decided by a public vote during the annual BBC SPOTY awards ceremony in Liverpool on Sunday 17 December.
Awards for Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Overseas Personality of the Year and Young Sports Personality of the Year will also be announced on the night.
The nominees:
- Elise Christie (Speed-skating)
- Mo Farah (Athletics)
- Chris Froome (Cycling)
- Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1)
- Anthony Joshua (Boxing)
- Harry Kane (Football)
- Johanna Konta (Tennis)
- Jonnie Peacock (Para-athletics)
- Adam Peaty (Swimmer)
- Jonathan Rea (Motorcycling)
- Anya Shrubsole (Cricket)
- Bianca Walkden (Taekwondo)
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