The queen of middle-distance running, Keely Hodgkinson, will be hoping to round out her gold medal winning year with success at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.
The 22-year-old struck gold at the Paris Olympics this summer in the 800m final, and now she’s powered ahead of the rest in a bid to emulate Mo Farah, the last athlete to win the BBC Sports Personality gong in 2017.
At the time of writing, the Mancunian was as short as 2/7 to be crowned champion. But she may yet face competition from another young star from the north of England…
Littler By Littler
Luke Littler is the second favourite to win SPOTY in 2024.
Darts has never had a winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, although 16-time world champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor did finish second back in 2010.
But could that streak be broken at the 2024 edition, with teenage sensation Luke Littler in the mix?
The Nuke has exploded big time this year, reaching his first PDC World Championship final on debut back in January.
Since then, Littler has hoisted the Premier League trophy, while triumphing in the World Series of Darts final and winning his first PDC major at the Grand Slam.
He will embark upon his quest to become world champion this December and into January, with his first game at the Alexandra Palace potentially coming against Fallon Sherrock if she can win her contest with Ryan Meikle.
Something that may scupper Littler’s chances on winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award is that he has been nominated for the ‘young’ version of it too, up against Olympic skateboarder Sky Brown and paralympic swimmer William Ellard. That could be seen as a consolation victory for the darts ace.
Hodgkinson is a worth favourite given how well athletes tend to do in the popularity contest. Athletics has provided the Sports Personality of the Year 18 times – at least ten more than any other sport, with Formula One in second place with eight wins.
Female stars have also triumphed in each of the last three years, with footballers Mary Earps and Beth Mead following Emma Raducanu into the winner’s circle.
Other sportsmen and women nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year prize include Jude Bellingham, who helped Real Madrid to the La Liga-Champions League double in 2023/24 and starred for England in their Euro 2024 campaign, and Joe Root, who became England’s all-time leading run-scorer in test matches back in October.
Dame Sarah Storey won an astonishing 19th gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Paris, to go with the not-inconsiderable feat of being a 29-time world champion in both swimming and cycling.
The sixth contender on the Sports Personality of the Year shortlist is Alex Yee, who won the gold medal at the 2024 Games to become the most decorated Olympic triathlete of all time.
A Perfect Match?
The BBC Studios in Salford by Arran Bee, flickr.
The BBC Sports Personality ceremony will take place on December 17 at the broadcaster’s facility in Salford.
On hosting duty will be Alex Scott, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan, who has become the new favourite to take over from Gary Lineker as host of Match of the Day.
Lineker confirmed his plan to step down from the football highlights show at the end of the season, bringing an end to 25 years as host.
Since then, the rumour mill has been in overdrive as to the identity of his successor, with MOTD 2 presenter Mark Champman expected to get the nod.
However, reports suggest that his refusal to work a job share with his BBC colleague Kelly Somers have ended his hopes of slipping into the host’s chair.
Others, including Scott and Sky Sports anchor Kelly Cates, have been linked with the role, however the bookies have installed a new favourite for the gig.
Gabby Logan has hosted football programmes on the BBC before, and her experience and knowledge of the beautiful game – as well as her existing contract with the broadcaster – have seen her odds slashed to 5/4.
It’s likely that the Beeb will opt for a ‘safe hands’ appointment, rather than try to bring in a new audience with a younger host. Plans to freshen up Saturday news show Football Focus have proven disastrous, with viewing figures plummeting in recent years.
The decision on the new host of Match of the Day is expected to be made in the New Year.