World number one tennis player Andy Murray has been joined by Olympians and footballers on the shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year.
The 29-year-old, who won the Wimbledon men’s singles tournament and made two other Grand Slam finals this year, has won the award twice in the past, in 2013 and 2015.
Team GB won an impressive 27 gold medals at the Olympic Games in Brazil, and several members of that team have taken their place among the 16 nominees for 2016.
Triathlon gold medalist Alistair Brownlee is in the running, as is Mo Farah, who completed the ‘double double’ of long-distance golds in Rio.
Congratulations, Mo Farah – #SPOTY contender 2016!https://t.co/bLnfMPj707 pic.twitter.com/f3e9SNApvU
— BBCSPOTY (@BBCSPOTY) November 28, 2016
Two footballers have also made the cut, with Jamie Vardy recognised for his part in Leicester City’s title triumph and Gareth Bale making the shortlist after helping Real Madrid win the Champions League and Wales reach the Euro 2016 semi-finals.
The nominees were revealed on the BBC’s flagship programme ‘The One Show’, and this year’s ceremony will take place on December 18 in Birmingham.
Full list of Sports Personality of the Year nominees
Nicola Adams (Boxing)
Gareth Bale (Football)
Alistair Brownlee (Triathlon)
Sophie Christiansen (Equestrian)
Kadeena Cox (Athletics and Cycling)
Mo Farah (Athletics)
Jason Kenny (Cycling)
Laura Kenny (Cycling)
Andy Murray (Tennis)
Adam Peaty (Swimming)
Dame Sarah Storey (Cycling)
Helen Richardson-Walsh (Hockey)
Nick Skelton (Equestrian)
Jamie Vardy (Football)
Max Whitlock (Gymnastics)
Danny Willett (Golf)
Catch up with this week’s episode of Football Friday Live
