Eight of 12 nominees for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year are Olympians. Perhaps fitting after the incredible summer of sport that the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics served up. Cyclists Bradley Wiggins and Sir Chris Hoy, tennis star Andy Murray, and athletics stars Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah are candidates in the 12-strong list. Rower Katherine Grainger, sailor Ben Ainslie, boxer Nicola Adams are other hopefuls together with Paralympians Sarah Storey, Ellie Simmonds and David Weir. Golfer Rory McIlroy, the only non-Olympian or Paralympian, also made the list for the award on 16 December.
The British Olympic Association commented:
“The British Olympic Association would like to congratulate all the deserving candidates shortlisted for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year. It is fantastic to see that so many of the nominees are Olympic and Paralympic athletes – athletes who inspired us all during the summer of 2012.
“We commend the BBC for the improvements it has made to the nomination process and panel. The panel will not have had an easy job after such a spectacular year of sport. Many worthy candidates, who would under ‘normal’ circumstances have made the shortlist, will this year miss out due to the
“Every one of the 541 athletes of Team GB aimed to be a role model and encourage a generation to have the ambition, drive and confidence to pursue their very own dreams. We are immensely proud that the shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year 2012 is dominated by some of the most accomplished Olympians and Paralympians of our time.”