I did this last year, so may as well do it this year, eh?
I'll update this post once the shortlist has been announced, but at the moment, let's speculate. I reckon either Wiggins, Ennis or Murray are the most likely winners.
EDIT: the shortlist is...
Bradley Wiggins Age: 32 Sport: Cycling Became the first British man to win the Tour de France, and then went on to claim the fourth Olympic gold medal of his career. Wiggins made the leader's yellow jersey his own from early on in Le Tour's gruelling 20-stage, 2,173-mile race. His victory in the men's time trial at London 2012 gave him a record-equalling seventh Olympic medal for a British sportsman.
Ben Ainslie Age: 35 Sport: Sailing Clinched his fourth straight gold medal to become the most decorated Olympic sailor in history. Ainslie, who also won a silver in 1996, was driven to success after the tactics of his rivals upset him and overtook Dane Paul Elvstrom's record of four golds that had stood since 1960.
Ellie Simmonds Age: 18 Sport: Swimming Won two Paralympic swimming golds in London to add to the two titles she secured as a 14-year-old four years earlier. Simmonds broke her own world record to win the SM6 200m individual medley final, just two days after gold in the S6 400m freestyle. She also won silver in the S6 100m freestyle and bronze in the S6 50m freestyle.
Jessica Ennis Age: 26 Sport: Athletics Set three personal bests in the seven events as she swept to gold in the Olympic heptathlon. Her total of 6,955 points was 306 ahead of German silver medallist Lilli Schwarzkopf and victory kick-started a golden hour for British athletics with subsequent victories for long jumper Greg Rutherford and runner Mo Farah.
Sir Chris Hoy Age: 36 Sport: Cycling Two cycling titles in London gave Hoy a British record six Olympic golds in all - one more than rowing great Sir Steve Redgrave. Having won on the first night of the track cycling in the men's team sprint, Hoy's emotional triumph in the keirin was the perfect velodrome finale for Team GB.
Rory McIlroy Age: 23 Sport: Golf A stunning eight-shot victory at the US PGA Championship was the second Major of McIlroy's career and made him the youngest player to achieve that feat since Seve Ballesteros. He then featured in Europe's Ryder Cup comeback victory over the United States and also topped the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic, to secure the world number one spot.
Nicola Adams Age: 30 Sport: Boxing The flyweight fought her way into the history books when she became the first woman win an Olympic boxing title. Despite two previous world championship final defeats by her opponent Ren Cancan, Adams overcame the Chinese fighter 16-7 in the gold medal bout.
David Weir Age: 33 Sport: Athletics The wheelchair racer, nicknamed 'Weirwolf', won a clean sweep of four gold medals at his home Paralympics. He dominated the T54 category, winning the 800m, 1500m, 5,000m and marathon titles to give him a career total of 10 Paralympic medals. Earlier in the year, he triumphed in the wheelchair race at the London Marathon for a record-equalling sixth time - matching Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson.
Mo Farah Age: 29 Sport: Athletics Won golds on successive Saturday nights, becoming the first Briton - and only the seventh man in history - to win both the 5,000m and 10,000m at the same Olympic Games. Farah, whose "Mobot" celebration was mimicked by sprint champion Usain Bolt, also became the first man to successfully defend the European 5,000m title. His wife Tania gave birth to twin girls just weeks after the Olympics finished.
Andy Murray Age: 25 Sport: Tennis Murray ended Britain's 76-year wait for a British major tennis champion with victory in an epic US Open final against Novak Djokovic. Two months earlier, the Scot was beaten in the men's final at Wimbledon by Roger Federer, but reversed that result to win Olympic gold and also picked up a mixed doubles silver with partner Laura Robson.
Sarah Storey Age: 35 Sport: Cycling Storey's Paralympic career reached new heights in London as she added four cycling titles for a British record-equalling total of 11 gold medals. Her overall total of 22 medals is as many as the Olympic record held by swimmer Michael Phelps and come from two sports. She previously won five golds in swimming before switching to cycling for the 2008 Games.
Katherine Grainger Age: 37 Sport: Rowing It was a case of fourth time lucky for Grainger as she finally gained an Olympic rowing gold medal after three silvers at successive Games. She and Anna Watkins surged to victory in the final of the women's double sculls for their 23rd consecutive win. Grainger became the first female British athlete in any sport to win a medal at four successive Olympics.
Last edited by Lotus on Mon Dec 17, 2012 7:26 am, edited 4 times in total.
Wiggo fo sho, though I wouldn't mind Murray taking it. They're the two with success during and outside the Olympics, Murray's will come when he wins Wimbledon however.
Skippy wrote:Wiggo fo sho, though I wouldn't mind Murray taking it. They're the two with success during and outside the Olympics
Yeah I think that's the key, as while everyone on there is pretty deserving (except Hamilton IMO) those two had success in multiple areas. Ennis is hugely popular though, so it wouldn't surprise me if she won purely because everyone loves her so much.
Surely the most difficult year ever to call this award?
Personally, I think it has to go to Farah, Ennis, Wiggins or Murray, though there are many great candidates.
Farah: Double Olympic gold in both long distance events. Ennis: Olympic gold and sets a personal best. Wiggins: First Briton to win Tour De France and also Olympic TT gold medallist. Murray: First Briton male to reach Wimbledon final since 1938, won Olympic single gold, Olympic mixed doubles silver, and winner of the US Open in a five set epic.
If I had to choose, I'd go Murray > Wiggins > Farah. There's really not a lot in it though.
I love Murray but he does have years of being nominated ahead of him. This is probably the only chance Ennis or Farah will have to win it, even if they go on to be successful elsewhere. Murray should get next year after he wins Wimbles
Wiggins. It's a shame, any other year Ennis, Farrah, Weir and Murray's achievements would outstrip everyone else. Next year, I doubt the winner will be as deserving as any of the five I've mentioned.
For the feat of a Brit winning the tour and then Olympic gold within 2 weeks it has to be Wiggo for me. Such a shame that we have this huge cloud hanging over cycling again with the doping allegations.
