This year, the lack of representation for sportswomen in the Spoty shortlist is a burning injustice that cannot be ignored. Out of the six nominations, only two are women – Emma Raducanu and Sarah Storey. Considering the extraordinary achievements in women’s sports this year, it is unforgivable that male exploits are deemed more worthy of celebration.
However, there is hope that Emma Raducanu, tennis’ golden girl, will win the Spoty award and become the first female winner in 15 years. To ensure fairness, the BBC must make an effort to celebrate female athletes and guarantee a clean sweep of wins across the board.
When it comes to the team of the year accolade, Chelsea and the England women’s rugby team are undeniable contenders. Chelsea had a treble-winning season, while the England women’s rugby team achieved an 18-consecutive Test winning streak and defeated world champions New Zealand twice.
The coaches of these teams, Emma Hayes and Simon Middleton, should also be strong contenders for the coach of the year award. Emma Hayes guided Chelsea to the Champions League final and captivated the nation with her insightful commentary during the Euros. Simon Middleton became the first coach of a women’s rugby side to be crowned World Rugby’s coach of the year.
Rachael Blackmore and Elaine Thompson-Herah, a double Olympic gold medalist from Jamaica, represent a third of the nominees for the world sport star award. This further emphasizes the BBC’s tendency to overlook sportswomen. It has been over two decades since a woman won the award, with only eight out of 65 recipients being women since its launch in 1960.
It is disappointing to see the glaring omission of Laura Kenny, who became the most successful female cyclist in Olympic history and the first British woman to win golds at three consecutive Olympics. Lizzie Deignan’s iconic victory at Paris Roubaix, along with Charlotte Worthington and Beth Shriever’s unprecedented BMX Olympic golds, also deserve recognition. Worthington even had to crowdfund to compete in the Tokyo Olympics.
Instead of celebrating the remarkable accomplishments of sportswomen, the Spoty shortlist has stirred controversy by including Tyson Fury, a man who threatened to sue the BBC if his name appeared. While Fury has talent in the boxing ring and advocates for male mental health, his past homophobic and sexist comments, along with his previous disinterest in awards, raise concerns about his inclusion. This highlights the issue of Spoty becoming a superficial personality contest that undermines sportswomen.
Comparing the reactions to Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the French Open due to mental health struggles and Tyson Fury’s openness about his own mental health, one can see the disparities in treatment. Osaka faced criticism from tennis’ grand slam bodies, while Fury was praised as a champion. The BBC, as a national broadcaster with a commitment to women’s sport, should prioritize putting women front and center on Sunday night.
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This year, the lack of representation for sportswomen in the Spoty shortlist is a burning injustice that cannot be ignored. Out of the six nominations, only two are women – Emma Raducanu and Sarah Storey. Considering the extraordinary achievements in women’s sports this year, it is unforgivable that male exploits are deemed more worthy of celebration.
However, there is hope that Emma Raducanu, tennis’ golden girl, will win the Spoty award and become the first female winner in 15 years. To ensure fairness, the BBC must make an effort to celebrate female athletes and guarantee a clean sweep of wins across the board.
When it comes to the team of the year accolade, Chelsea and the England women’s rugby team are undeniable contenders. Chelsea had a treble-winning season, while the England women’s rugby team achieved an 18-consecutive Test winning streak and defeated world champions New Zealand twice.
The coaches of these teams, Emma Hayes and Simon Middleton, should also be strong contenders for the coach of the year award. Emma Hayes guided Chelsea to the Champions League final and captivated the nation with her insightful commentary during the Euros. Simon Middleton became the first coach of a women’s rugby side to be crowned World Rugby’s coach of the year.
Rachael Blackmore and Elaine Thompson-Herah, a double Olympic gold medalist from Jamaica, represent a third of the nominees for the world sport star award. This further emphasizes the BBC’s tendency to overlook sportswomen. It has been over two decades since a woman won the award, with only eight out of 65 recipients being women since its launch in 1960.
It is disappointing to see the glaring omission of Laura Kenny, who became the most successful female cyclist in Olympic history and the first British woman to win golds at three consecutive Olympics. Lizzie Deignan’s iconic victory at Paris Roubaix, along with Charlotte Worthington and Beth Shriever’s unprecedented BMX Olympic golds, also deserve recognition. Worthington even had to crowdfund to compete in the Tokyo Olympics.