Can Anyone Stop Keeley Hodgkinson from Winning the Sports Personality of the Year?

One of the highlights of the pre-Christmas TV schedule in the UK is the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The ceremony which is broadcast on BBC1 celebrates twelve months of sporting success and achievement with one sportsperson eventually being crowned as the overall winner. The winner, which will be decided by a public vote, will be selected from a pre-determined shortlist and must have played a significant role in a sporting event or occasion which has taken place in the last twelve months.

The shortlist, which will be announced a few weeks before the ceremony, is determined by an expert panel. This process has been in place since 2012 with contributors asked to consider participants of all sports who may also have had a wider impact on the sporting landscape.

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Why is the Sports Personality of the Year so Important?

The British public is always captivated by memorable sporting moments, with millions of viewers tuning in to major events such as the Olympics, Wimbledon, the FIFA World Cup and Six Nations. Most of these events are available free-to-air, with many of them shown on the BBC. As well as handing out awards, the ceremony also serves as a reminder of the UK’s sporting achievements whilst sharing a number of feel-good stories from lesser-known and grass roots events.

Who are the Previous Winners?

The award ceremony has taken place every year since 1954 with middle-distance runner Christopher Chattaway picking up the inaugural gong. Participants of various sports including boxing, rowing, snooker, darts, football and formula one have all been awarded this prestigious honour over the last seven decades. England goalkeeper Mary Earps was the most recent recipient of the award following her heroics between the sticks at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Other notable winners of the Sports Personality of the Year award include jockey Tony McCoy in 2010, Welsh boxer Joe Calzaghe, Rugby Union World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson and figure skating duo Torville and Dean who were recognised for their achievements back in 1984. Tennis player Andy Murray remains the most decorated sportsperson with three wins whereas Lewis Hamilton, Damon Hill, Henry Cooper and Nigel Mansell each receiving the award twice.

54 of the 70 awards have been handed out to male athletes and it’s exactly the same number for English nominees. There have been seven Scottish winners, five Welsh winners and two from Northern Ireland. Mark Cavendish remains the only winner to hail from the Isle of Man.

Why is Keely Hodgkinson Likely to Win in 2024?

In an Olympic year, gold medal winners are always likely to be high on the list. Keely Hodgkinson, hailing from Atherton, finally clinched Olympic success in the 800m in Paris this summer. The track-and-field superstar had picked up two silver medals at the Tokyo games and finally ended her long wait for gold in the French capital.

The golden girl of British athletics was part of a successful GB team and has been installed as the odds-on favourite for the December accolade. The award is often clouded by recency bias and with Hodgkinson’s heroics remain at the forefront of the British public’s mind.

The ease of Hodgkinson’s victory attracted plenty of interest from non-sports fans and her 800m success has been chalked up as one of the greatest achievements in the history of Team GB.

Who are her Rivals?

Prior to her success in Paris, darts supermo Luke Littler was the early frontrunner for success. The 17-year old’s success on the PDC Circuit has been backed up by his unlikely victory at Ally Pally in December. The prodigious teenager’s meteroic rise has been widely covered by newspapers in the UK and his exploits have put him firmly in contention for the SPOTY.

F1 drivers have enjoyed plenty of success at this ceremony with the likes of Damon Hill, Jackie Stewart and Lewis Hamilton having all prevailed. Lando Norris will be hoping to follow in their footsteps in December. Norris has proved an exceptionally consistent operator this season, eating into Max Verstappen’s lead at the top of the Driver’s Championship.

Previous winner Mark Cavendish is back amongst the contenders having secured his 35th Tour de France stage win earlier this year. The sprinter is a popular figure due to his brutal honesty and down-to-earth persona.

Ben Ainslie has previously been nominated for the SPOTY twice (2008 and 2012) and remains one of the most successful sailors in the history of the sport.

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