The list of nominees for the BBC 2016 Sports Personality of the Year award has been finalised, and plenty of Olympic and Paralympic stars have made the cut.
Alistair Brownlee, Mo Farah, Jason Kenny and Laura Kenny are among the Rio stars who make up more than half of the 16-name shortlist.
However, while the achievements of the nominees can’t be contested, some are angry or merely baffled about some of the names that don’t appear on this year’s shortlist.
Chris Froome defended his Tour de France title this year, making it three wins in four years for the cyclist – perhaps his failure to win Olympic gold counted against him.
https://twitter.com/jpdavis89/status/803317980629258241
No matter how long list was, it was never going to satisfy everyone. All deserving of places, Froome probably biggest to miss out #SPOTY
— Joshua Murray (@JoshuaMurrayBM) November 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/Pefo5/status/803317248706379776
While Team GB may have won 27 Olympic gold medals this summer, few were able to match the achievements of Michael Bisping.
The Lancastrian became the UK’s first ever UFC world champion, claiming the middleweight crown with a shock victory over Luke Rockhold and defending his title against Dan Henderson in Manchester in October.
Appreciate its an Olympic year and #UFC is still niche, but the UK's first world champion @Bisping real unlucky not to make the #SPOTY list!
— Gavin Wilson (@GavWilson) November 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/DannyLyons67/status/803317852757434368
No @bisping, really – Sold out the MEN and O2, first British MMA champion. Bottled it, big time! @BBCSport #SPOTY
— Jamie Lewis (@Jamielew93) November 28, 2016
And, speaking of world champions, Anthony Joshua claimed the IBF world heavyweight belt in April and launched a successful defence against Dominic Breazale over the summer.
If he extends his career record to 18-0 against Éric Molina – a fight that takes place eight days before the SPOTY ceremony – his omission may look all the more inexplicable to some.
Surprised Anthony Joshua isn't on the list tbf, after all he is World champion #SPOTY
— David (@DC_794) November 28, 2016
Vardy for the spoty your having a laugh. Thought Joshua was worth a shout
— ian Lindley#20Times (@ibblyobbly) November 28, 2016
what does Anthony Joshua need to do to get nominated? #SPOTY
— Michael (@tgoatcapper) November 28, 2016
While some will point to Froome, Bisping and Joshua as evidence of a bizarre selection policy, others will use it as proof that this has really been a stand-out year for British sport. After all, when world champions and Olympic gold medalists don’t make the cut then you know competition is fierce.
Catch up with this week’s episode of Football Friday Live
