Lioness Beth Mead headlines the historic gender-equal shortlist for the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year (Spoty), marking an exceptional year for women’s sports.
Mead, the Euro champion and Arsenal winger, is among the three women on the list of six contenders for the 69th edition of the prestigious award, set to be presented on Wednesday.
The shortlist also features gymnastics world champion Jessica Gadirova and curler Eve Muirhead, who clinched gold at the Beijing Winter Olympics earlier this year, rounding off her career on a high.
Completing the lineup are World Cup-winning cricketer Ben Stokes, seven-time snooker world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, and Jake Wightman, who secured a surprising 1500m gold at the World Championships in July.
Previous criticism targeted the BBC for underrepresenting women in Spoty, but now the organization has the chance to witness back-to-back female winners.
In 2021, Emma Raducanu became the first woman in 15 years to claim the award following her remarkable US Open victory at the tender age of 18. Mead is now the front-runner for this year’s prize, thanks to her sensational performance for England during the home Euros, where she won the Golden Boot.
Most of the nominees, along with numerous other prominent figures such as many of the Lionesses, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, and Sir Chris Hoy, are expected to attend the ceremony on Wednesday.
What is Spoty?
Spoty is the BBC’s prestigious end-of-year sports review show that crowns the Sports Personality of the Year. It remains one of the most esteemed awards in the world of sports as recognized by the BBC.
The official criteria state that the award is given to “the sportsperson whose sporting actions have captivated the UK public the most throughout 2022.” Contrary to popular misconception, the award is not primarily based on the winner’s personality but rather harks back to a time when the terms “personality” and “person” were mostly interchangeable.
Aside from the main award, other titles presented during the event include Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Young Sports Personality of the Year, the Helen Rollason award for “outstanding achievement in the face of adversity,” and the Unsung Hero of the Year.
The lifetime achievement award will be given to former sprint champion Usain Bolt, and Lionel Messi has been chosen as the world sports star of the year.
When and Where is Spoty?
The televised event is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, December 21, and the public can vote during the BBC’s program. The show will be broadcast on BBC One.
The live coverage will be aired from Media City in Salford.
The show will begin at 6:45pm GMT and is projected to conclude at 9pm.
You can watch the event on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Leading the presentation is Gary Lineker, fresh off his role as lead presenter at the recent Qatar World Cup, with Clare Balding, Gabby Logan, and Alex Scott by his side. Alternatively, you can follow the event through our live blog.
Who are the Contenders?
Beth Mead, the England star, heads the list of six nominees for Spoty 2022. The Arsenal forward claimed the Golden Boot as the leading scorer and was named the player of the tournament during England’s triumph in Euro 2022.
Joining Mead on the shortlist are England cricket captain Ben Stokes, snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan, gymnast Jessica Gadirova, curler Eve Muirhead, and runner Jake Wightman.
The winner will be announced during BBC One’s live show on Wednesday. Cast your vote below to support the athlete you believe should win.
Beth Mead
Mead, the 27-year-old Arsenal forward, won the Golden Boot and player of the tournament at the Euros. With six goals and five assists, she played a pivotal role in England’s first major football title since 1966, breaking new ground for women’s football in the country.
Jessica Gadirova
Gadirova, at 18 years old, achieved remarkable success at the World Championships in Liverpool by securing gold in floor, silver in the team event, and the historic bronze in the all-around competition, becoming the first British woman to do so. This year, she also won gold in the floor and silver in the team event at the European Championships. Gadirova is also shortlisted for the Young Sports Personality along with skateboarder Sky Brown and diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix.
Eve Muirhead
Muirhead, aged 32, finally fulfilled her aspirations by claiming a long-awaited gold medal at the Beijing Winter Olympics, her fourth Olympic Games. Leading the British women’s curling team, she attained the curling title, becoming Scotland’s most decorated curler and reaching the pinnacle of her sport before retiring.
Ronnie O’Sullivan
O’Sullivan clinched his seventh world snooker title, matching Stephen Hendry’s record of Crucible crowns this year, two decades after earning his first. At 46, he became the oldest player in history to achieve this feat. Despite his longevity and remarkable talent, O’Sullivan has never finished in the top three of Spoty. A victory would make him the first snooker player to claim the prize since Steve Davis in 1988.
Ben Stokes
In 2022, Stokes proved once again why he is considered one of cricket’s premier competitors. His unbeaten 52 runs were instrumental in England’s victory in the T20 World Cup final. In addition, he assumed the role of England Test captain in April and led the team to their first Test series win in Pakistan in 22 years. Stokes also displayed an exceptional performance throughout the summer.
Jake Wightman
Wightman, a middle-distance runner aged 28, emerged as Great Britain’s first 1500m world champion in almost four decades, surpassing the Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen. He followed up this triumph by securing bronze in the 1500m at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and silver in the 800m at the European Championships, culminating in a remarkable summer.
Who Deserves to Win Sports Personality of the Year?
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