The six-person shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award

The six-person shortlist has been unveiled for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Voting opens during the show on BBC One on Sunday December 19.

In the build-up to the event, we look at the six contenders battling it out to succeed Lewis Hamilton, who fails to make the shortlist.

Tom Daley (diving)

Few medals at the Tokyo Olympics were more emotive than the gold won by Tom Daley along with partner Matty Lee in the 10m synchro diving competition.

At what was his fourth Games, he edged out his Chinese rivals by just 1.23 points for the narrowest of winning margins.

He also added a bronze medal in the individual to take his career tally at the Olympics to four medals in all.

Tyson Fury (boxing)

Fury’s career has not lacked for drama both in and outside the ring and the final part of his trilogy of heavyweight fights against Deontay Wilder was no exception.

The 33-year-old Briton was twice knocked to the canvas in the fourth round but regrouped to increasingly dominate a pulsating fight to live long in the memory and knock out his opponent.

It, in theory, paved the way for a reunification fight with the winner of the planned rematch between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.

Adam Peaty (swimming)

The 2021 calendar year has been a busy one for Peaty, who once again proved the class apart in the Olympic pool in the 100metres breaststroke.

He added two further medals to that in Tokyo: gold in the 4x100m mixed medley relay as well as silver in the men’s medley relay.

After his medal-winning antics in the pool, he switched his attention to the dance floor in Strictly Come Dancing.

Emma Raducanu (tennis)

The overwhelming favourite to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year later this month, she made her mark in winning the US Open title in only her second ever Grand Slam at just the age of 18.

She had previously made her way to the fourth round at her home Grand Slam, Wimbledon, before bowing out with breathing difficulties.

Not even part of the main draw at the US Open, she had to win three qualifiers to reach the first round and did not drop a single set in qualifying or the main event as she won the all-teenage tussle with Leylah Fernandez come the final in New York.

Raheem Sterling (football)

Sterling makes the shortlist for his efforts for both club and country. He helped guide Manchester City to the Premier League title, scoring 10 league goals in the process.

He also helped them reach the final of the Champions League where they had to make do with runners-up spot against Chelsea.

His performances for England in Euro 2020 were even more stand-out. He scored England’s only goals in their group, scored a late opener in the knock-out stage win over Germany, and was central to England’s run to the final.

Dame Sarah Storey (cycling)

Storey has already had a prolific career in Paralympic terms with a myriad of medals first in swimming and then cycling.

But in Tokyo she became the most successful British Paralympian of all time with the 17th gold medal of her career in the C4-5 cycling road race.

At 44, despite having eight Paralympic Games under her belt, she has her sights set on competing at the next Games in Paris in three years’ time.

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