The BBC Sports Personality of The Year nominees have been announced after another brilliant year for British sport. The names in contention are diver Tom Daley, boxer Tyson Fury, swimmer Adam Peaty, tennis player Emma Raducanu, footballer Raheem Sterling and Paralympic cyclist Dame Sarah Storey. Voting will be open during the show on BBC One on Sunday, 19 December. The public can vote by phone or online on the night for the main award, with full details announced during the show.
Fury’s inclusion comes after his dramatic 11th-round win over American Deontay Wilder to retain his WBC title in Las Vegas in October.
After being knocked down twice in the fourth round, Fury recovered to knock out his opponent in the 11th round.
It confirmed Fury’s status as one of the great heavyweights and the dominant force in the trilogy against Wilder, with the first fight in 2018 finishing in a controversial draw, before the British boxer won their second outing in 2020.
Fury was in contention for last year’s Sports Personality award, but this only made him angry.
After being announced as a nominee, he wrote on his Instagram account alongside a video: “Hi this is Tyson fury the gypsy king. This is a message for @bbcsport and their SPOTY award.
“Please take me off your list as I’m the people’s champion and have no need for verification or any awards.
“I know who I am and what I’ve done in the sport. I have the love of the people which means more to me than all the awards in the world.
“To anyone who supports me, don’t vote.”
In an interview with the Telegraph, Fury also threatened to get his lawyers involved if he remained on the nominees list.
He added: “Honestly, it’s got nothing to do with the past, I just don’t need the gratification from the BBC.
“They shouldn’t have nominated me. I’m not interested in their awards or anything they have to say because it’s really unimportant to me.
“I’ve told them to take me off. I don’t want any part of it. I do not need a s*** award from a TV company to say ‘well done’ for what I’ve done this year. I know who I am, I know what I’ve done.
“They’ve not listened and they’ve had a letter from Robert [Davis, his long-time lawyer], a serious letter as well. I hope they do the right thing. I don’t want to take it away from somebody who it would mean something to. Give it to someone who deserves it. I don’t work for it.”
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The Gypsy King spoke to the same newspaper again this year, and once again threatened a legal row over his inclusion.
He said: “It means nothing to me and I don’t need it or want it. In fact, they will hear from my solicitors if they do put me on the list. Give it to someone who needs it. I don’t.
“And, anyway, we know who the sports personality of the year is anyway – it’s me. I am the sports personality. Who does what I do, goes through a war in Las Vegas, entertains the fans, and then sings to the audience?”
In 2018, Fury was omitted from the list in spite of taking part in one of the most thrilling sporting events of the year when he rose from the canvas in the 12th round against Wilder in a fight that ended in a controversial draw.
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Fury added last week: “They wouldn’t give it to me and give me credit if I won 50 world title belts from the people who put it on, and I don’t care.
“I should have won it three times already. I’ve got my wife and my kids. That’s all the awards I need. I’ll sue [the BBC] if they put me on.”
Rising tennis star, Raducanu, looks to be the strong favourite for this year’s award.
She won the nation’s hearts with a stunning breakout at Wimbledon before beating the odds to secure the US Open title.