The shortlist of nominees for the BBC Sports Personality of Year award has emerged – and one athlete is already a huge favourite to win.
After another eventful year of sporting action, which included the men’s European Championships and Summer Olympics, an expert panel has whittled down the potential candidates into a six-person shortlist.
BBC viewers will then vote later this month to decide the next winner of the trophy which was won last year by England footballer Mary Earps.
A number of records could be broken on the night including the youngest winner for more than 60 years as well as the oldest winner in the competition’s history.
Here’s everything you need to know, including the SPOTY odds, how to watch and who is presenting.
Who are the Sports Personality of the Year nominees?
Headlining this year’s shortlist is Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson after she stormed to an emphatic 800m gold at just 22 years of age.
The runner came into the Games with plenty of expectation after a stellar season which saw her win European Championships gold and set a new British record.
But she delivered in superb style in Paris to claim Team GB’s first gold on the track since 2016 and become only the 10th British woman to win an athletics gold medal at the Olympics.
Elsewhere, Luke Littler could become the youngest winner since 1958 after he was nominated following his breakout year.
The teenage darts sensation, also nominated for the young Sports Personality of the Year award, made waves when he reached the reached the World Championship final at just 16 years old last January.
Littler has gone on to win more than £1million in prize money in his first year, including winning the Premier League and the Grand Slam of Darts.
Jude Bellingham’s breakout year at Real Madrid sees him in contention for the award as well as England cricketer Joe Root who overtook Sir Alastair Cook to become England’s highest Test run-scorer of all time.
And Paris served up two further nominees, with Alex Yee and Sarah Storey both receiving recognition for their achievements.
Yee claimed a dramatic gold in the men’s Olympic Triathlon, while Storey, who could become the competition’s oldest winner, won another two Paralympic cycling golds.
Who is the favourite to win Sports Personality of the Year?
BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 odds
Keely Hodgkinson: 1/4
Luke Littler: 5/2
Alex Yee: 50/1
Jude Bellingham: 66/1
Sarah Storey: 80/1
Joe Root: 80/1
Odds courtesy of Betfair (and subject to change)
When is Sports Personality of the Year?
The ceremony will be held in Manchester on Tuesday, December 17. Viewers can join in from 7pm GMT on BBC One and iPlayer.
Who is presenting Sports Personality of the Year?
An all-female cast of Clare Balding, Gabby Logan, and Alex Scott will present this year’s show.
This comes after Gary Lineker stepped down from his hosting duties following a 23-year stint.
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