Mary Earps is one of the contenders to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year
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Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps and recently-retired England cricketer Stuart Broad are among the contenders to be named 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
The annual award is now in its 70th year, with the glamorous ceremony due to be held on Tuesday 19 December at Media City.
The Sports Personality of the Year award, or SPOTY, is the standout category among eight to be awarded on the night.
Other gongs up for grabs include the Helen Rollason award and Young Sports Personality of the Year.
But the focus will be on who succeeds Beth Mead as SPOTY, with the winner decided by a public vote. Here are six of the top contenders:
Mary Earps
Earps won the Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper at the Women’s World Cup
England goalkeeper Earps was a standout performer as Sarina Wiegman’s side reached the Women’s World Cup final in August.
While the Lionesses fell short against Spain, the Manchester United shot-stopper kept out a 70th-minute penalty to give her side hope – building on stellar performances throughout the competition.
Earps was subsequently awarded the Golden Glove as the tournament’s best goalkeeper. Domestically, she started every game of the 2022/23 WSL season as Manchester United were edged out by Chelsea in the title race.
Stuart Broad
Broad enjoyed a fairytale finale to his cricket career
England’s second-leading Test wicket-taker, Broad signed off from international cricket with a fairytale finish in the 2023 men’s Ashes.
The 37-year-old took a wicket with his final ball against Australia to seal victory at the Oval for England and a series draw.
The ex-Nottinghamshire seamer was England’s top wicket-taker in the series – only Australia greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath concluded their careers with more Ashes wickets.
Frankie Dettori
Dettori has been a relentless winner this year
Dettori’s final season in Europe has been another successful one more than 30 years after beginning life as a competitive jockey.
The Italian claimed two British Classics this season, taking victory with Chaldean in the 2000 Guineas and on Soul Sister in the Oaks.
His last race on British soil came at Ascot, and an inspired ride on King Of Steel in the Champion Stakes ensured he bowed out with victory at a racecourse that now includes a bronze sculpture of the jockey.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson
Johnson-Thompson won world gold in Budapest
After struggling with injury over the last few years, Johnson-Thompson returned to the top of the world with heptathlon gold in Budapest.
The British multi-eventer pipped Anna Hall of the USA to victory at the World Athletics Championships to secure the crown for a second time, after her previous triumph at Doha 2019.
The 30-year-old will now go in search of a first Olympic medal in Paris next summer, with the exciting prospect of another battle with Belgian superstar Nafi Thiam on the cards.
Jude Bellingham
Bellingham has become one of the best footballers on the planet
A second footballer in contention, Bellingham has cemented his place as one of the world’s best players after a move to Real Madrid in the summer.
The 20-year-old midfielder swapped Borussia Dortmund for the Spanish capital in June and has since excelled in a more advanced role, averaging almost a goal-a-game to power Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
The winner of the 2023 Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy awards has also featured regularly for England under Gareth Southgate.
Ronnie O’Sullivan
O’Sullivan remarkably claimed an eighth UK Snooker Championship title 30 years after his first
Largely off the SPOTY radar for most of the year, O’Sullivan burst right into contention with a brilliant triumph at the UK Snooker Championship in York earlier this month – lifting the trophy for the eighth time.
His latest success came an incredible 30 years after he first won the event as a 17-year-old in 1993, meaning he now holds the remarkable record of being both the youngest and oldest UK Championship winner.
The behind-the-scenes documentary released in November focusing on his tortured genius was a fascinating watch while, back on the baize, he also won the prestigious Shanghai Masters title and has spent most of the year ranked as snooker’s world No 1, even as he reached his 48th birthday,
Latest odds to win Sports Personality of the Year
Mary Earps – 4/11
Stuart Broad – 3/1
Frankie Dettori – 12/1
Ronnie O’Sullivan – 16/1
Katarina Johnson-Thompson – 16/1
Jude Bellingham – 25/1
Tom Aspinall – 33/1
Rory McIlroy – 66/1
Tyson Fury – 80/1
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