The BBC host their annual Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony on Wednesday night and there are six names in the frame to take home the top prize.
Here are the sports stars in contention for the accolade.
Beth Mead - Football (1/33)*
One of England’s heroes of Euro 2022, Mead has had an outstanding year, which was capped off with lifting the Lionesses' first major trophy at Wembley Stadium in July. For her outstanding contributions in the tournament, she received the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament awards. Although she missed out on the 2021-22 WSL title with Arsenal, she had an impressive domestic campaign having contributed 11 goals and eight assists for the Gunners. Before suffering an ACL injury this season, Mead was involved in seven WSL goals in as many matches for Arsenal.
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Ben Stokes - Cricket (16/1)
The 2019 recipient played a major role in England’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign as they defeated Pakistan in a gripping final. Despite the intense pressure at Melbourne Cricket Ground, the England captain was there at the end on 52 not out. The 31-year-old inherited a side with one win in their last 17 Tests and led England to nine victories from 10 games in increasingly audacious fashion against New Zealand, India, South Africa and Pakistan.
Ronnie O’Sullivan - Snooker (66/1)
O’Sullivan claimed his seventh World Championship title earlier this year to equal Stephen Hendry’s record for titles on the biggest stage. At 46, he became the oldest victor at the Crucible in history to take the accolade from Ray Reardon, who won the tournament aged 45 in 1978. The Rocket secured his record-equalling seventh world title in an 18-13 win over Judd Trump to cement himself as one of the all-time greats.
Jake Wightman - Athletics (100/1)
Wightman delivered an astonishing run to win the 1500m gold at the World Championship in Oregon to become the first Briton to win the world title since Steve Crann back in 1983. The Scotsman preserved his last bit of energy for a burst at the end where he was able to beat Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigsten. His triumph was called by his father Geoff, who was the stadium announcer.
Jessica Gadirova - Gymnastics (150/1)
The young English star claimed floor gold at the World Championships in Liverpool. It was the 18-year-old’s third medal at the event, following up a silver in the team event and a history-making bronze in the all-around competition. Gadirova, who took floor gold and team silver at the European Championships, is also on the Young Sports Personality shortlist along with skateboarder Sky Brown and diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix.
Eve Muirhead - Curling (150/1)
Muirhead led the Great Britain women's team that won curling gold at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. As captain, she claimed an elusive gold medal in China in her fourth Olympic Games appearance. It was the pinnacle of a career during which she became Scotland's most decorated curler. She was the youngest skip to win an Olympic medal as her team claimed bronze in 2014.
Voting for the award will be open during the show on BBC One on Wednesday, 21 December.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds courtesy of Betfred
