kingcarr21 Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 Gareth Bale Age: 25 Sport: Football The world's most expensive footballer shrugged off the £85m price tag to enjoy a dazzling debut season at Real Madrid, clocking up 22 goals and 16 assists. Former Southampton and Tottenham player Bale netted the winning goal in the Copa del Rey final and then became the first Welshman to score in a European Cup/Champions League final. He was on the mark as Madrid won 'La Decima' - an historic 10th European title. He was also named as the Welsh footballer of the year for a record fourth time and featured in a promising start to the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. What he said: "To win those trophies in my first season at Real Madrid was a dream come true." Did you know? Bale is the first footballer to be shortlisted since 2009, when compatriot Ryan Giggs won the main award. Charlotte Dujardin Age: 29 Sport: Dressage She made history by winning two gold medals at the World Equestrian Games - the first British equestrian rider to be Olympic, world and European champion at the same time. Dujardin, who was born in Enfield and is based in Gloucestershire, picked up gold in the freestyle and grand prix special, plus a silver in the team event on her horse Valegro. At Olympia, she won the London stage of the dressage World Cup and holds the world record in all three elements of her sport. In November she was named the 2014 Sky Sports/Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year. What she said: "After London I didn't think it could get much better. I just couldn't have asked for any more." Did you know? Two equestrian riders have been voted Sports Personality - Princess Anne in 1971 and her daughter Zara Phillips 25 years later. Carl Froch Age: 37 Sport: Boxing Carl 'The Cobra' Froch retained his IBF and WBA super-middleweight titles against bitter rival George Groves. After a controversial bout in November last year, the two met again in front of a British record 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in May in a fight that lived up to its hype. Nottingham's Froch knocked Groves out in the eighth round with a huge right hand that will go down as one of the best punches seen in British boxing history. What he said: "I've got ingredients you can't teach, ingredients you're born with" Did you know? Joe Calzaghe, in 2007, was the last boxer to win the award. Fighters have triumphed five times including dual winner Sir Henry Cooper. Kelly Gallagher & Charlotte EvansAge: Gallagher 29, Evans 23 Sport: Alpine skiing Gallagher and her guide Evans became the first competitors from the UK to clinch a Winter Paralympics gold medal as they won the visually impaired Super-G in Sochi. The Northern Irish skier, helped by Kent-based Evans, negotiated the tricky Rosa Khutor course in one minute 28.72 seconds to take gold. They were awarded MBEs for services to sport for people with a visual impairment. What Kelly said: "I can't understate how hard it has been. It's been horrible at times. It's so nice to get a good reward for the work we have put in" Did you know? The pair communicate on their way down the slopes via bluetooth headsets as they travel at speeds of up to 100km/h. Lewis Hamilton Age: 29 Sport: Formula One After a dramatic season which concluded on Sunday, Hamilton became the first British driver for more than 40 years to win a second Formula 1 world title. He was engaged in a thrilling and sometimes controversial battle for the crown with his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg but secured the championship with victory in the last race in Abu Dhabi. Hamilton, who grew up in Stevenage in Hertfordshire, won 11 races during 2014 as he surpassed Nigel Mansell's British record of 31 grands prix victories and helped his team win the constructors' championship. What he said: "It has been an incredible year. It feels like an out-of-body experience" Did you know? He was second to Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy in the 2008 Sports Personality poll - after his first F1 title - with swimming champion Rebecca Adlington third. Rory McIlroy Age: 25 Sport: Golf Golf's world number one enjoyed a sensational year in which he won two more major titles. Victory at the Open Championship secured him the third leg of a career Slam and made him the first European to win three different majors in the modern era. Just weeks later, the Northern Irishman became the first player from the UK to win back-to-back majors by claiming a second US PGA title. He then went on to win three points as Team Europe retained the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. What he said: "To win my second major this year and a fourth by the age of 25, it's just incredible." Did you know? Two golfers have been Sports Personality of the Year - Dai Rees (1957) and Sir Nick Faldo (1989) Jo PaveyAge: 41 Sport: Athletics Distance runner Jo Pavey left it late but won her first major championship gold medal at the European Championships in Zurich in the 10,000m. At the age of 40 years and 325 days she became the oldest-ever female European champion. Just 10 days previously she won a bronze in the 5,000m at the Commonwealth Games. The Devon athlete only returned to the track in May, eight months after giving birth to her second child, when she won the British 10,000m Championships. What she said: "I've definitely surprised myself. I didn't expect to win any medals - I was breastfeeding at the start of April." Did you know? Athletics (17) leads the way for Sports Personality winners. The last runner to triumph was Dame Kelly Holmes in 2004. Adam Peaty Age: 19 Sport: Swimming A medal-laden 2014 saw English swimmer Peaty break into the world elite as he became a double Commonwealth gold medallist and a four-time European champion. At the Commonwealths in Glasgow he took gold in the 100m breaststroke and 4x100m relay medley, and a silver in the 50m breaststroke. Peaty, who trains in Derby, did even better in Berlin at the Europeans. He broke the 50m breaststroke world record en route to winning gold in four different disciplines. What he said: "I felt absolutely amazing (breaking the world record). I looked at the scoreboard about five times before I knew I had broken it." Did you know? Swimmer Anita Lonsbrough was the first woman to be BBC Sports Personality of the Year, in 1962 . Max Whitlock Age: 21 Sport: Gymnastics An impressive year for gymnast Whitlock saw him pick up a host of medals from the World, European and British Championships and at the Commonwealths Games. He equalled the best all-around finish by a Briton at a World Championship by taking silver in Nanning, China. Whitlock also took gold at the European Championships on the pommel horse and three golds, a silver and a bronze at the Commonwealths. What he said: "It's been a tough year with three major championships, but it's also been amazing and every success just makes me more motivated." Did you know? A gymnast has never won the BBC award, although Beth Tweddle made the 2009 shortlist. Lizzy Yarnold Age: 26 Sport: Skeleton Yarnold dominated the women's skeleton event to win Great Britain's only gold medal of the 2014 Winter Olympics, and just their 10th in Games history. The Kent slider led the field throughout the four-race event in Sochi, and her winning margin of 0.97 seconds was the largest ever. She also secured the overall World Cup title in 2013-14, reaching the podium in seven of the eight World Cup races and winning four golds. What she said: "I'm just so chuffed I'm Olympic champion. As an athlete you do so much hard work, but it's worth it for days like this." Did you know? Yarnold wasn't born when Britain's last Winter Olympians to win Sports Personality - Torvill and Dean (1984) - triumphed in 1984.
kingcarr21 Posted 25 November 2014 Author Posted 25 November 2014 So who do you think deserves it? For me its a straight shoot out between Hamilton and McIlory. Surely Rory will take it this year. What he has achieved in the golfing world this year has been incredible.
Guest MattP Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 Mcilroy all the way, had an incredible year.
RobHawk Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 Jo Pavey for me! Incredible what she has achieved at her age, a year after giving birth and with no funding. Mcilroy and Hamilton have both had great years but the spirit and determination Pavey showed, and under much different circumstances makes her a much better sports personality than all of the others. Remember - Its not supposed to be about who had the most successful year.
Darkon84 Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 I can't see anyone but McIlroy. He's put in so much extra work this year and he's reaped the benefits.
DennisNedry Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 Lewis Hamilton for me. Not just a great achievement becoming double world champion but he has also matured a lot and become much more likeable than he was in previous years.
Guest MattP Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 Odds: Rory McIlroy 1/5 Lewis Hamilton 3/1 Gareth Bale 33/1 Carl Froch 33/1 Jo Pavey 50/1 100/1 Bar
Finnegan Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 Genuinely surprised Lewis is that far behind Mcilroy in the odds. Not saying I want it to be Lewis, just imagine him being a very popular vote. Especially as people have very short term memories for these things. Always better off if you win something late in the year.
ScouseFox Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 should be rory, wouldn't be surprised if it was hamilton. if carl froch finishes in the top three i will cry
kingcarr21 Posted 25 November 2014 Author Posted 25 November 2014 The thing for me is Lewis Hamilton achieving his world championship is imo about 25% down to him. Being at Mercedes with the resources and the best car it makes it a hell of alot easier to win the world championship. Compare that to Rory. Who has had a fantastic year. His ability, skill and composure to win so much this year is all down to him.
Guest MattP Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 Genuinely surprised Lewis is that far behind Mcilroy in the odds. Not saying I want it to be Lewis, just imagine him being a very popular vote. Especially as people have very short term memories for these things. Always better off if you win something late in the year. Mac has shortened up bigtime, he was 1/16 a few weeks back, he should win in my humble opinion, two majors and a Ryder Cup in the same year is something a European Golfer may never do again, certainly feels like a better achievement than a driver in a car so good he was effectively in a 2 horse race. They'll both be very popular votes I think. should be rory, wouldn't be surprised if it was hamilton. if carl froch finishes in the top three i will cry Just shows how insular Brits are when it comes to sport to this, Froch has had one big domestic fight this year and beat a decent Euro/World level fighter in it. He'd have been a worthy winner in 2009 when he beat three World class opponents in a year in Taylor, Dirrell and Pascal yet no one back then had barely heard of him, ironically at the peak of his career.
Guest MattP Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 Who is this year's token paralympic entrant anyway? Just tried to find odds on 'Kelly' Maloney but doesn't appear 'she' is in, would have thought she stood a chance this year.
ScouseFox Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 Just shows how insular Brits are when it comes to sport to this, Froch has had one big domestic fight this year and beat a decent Euro/World level fighter in it. He'd have been a worthy winner in 2009 when he beat three World class opponents in a year in Taylor, Dirrell and Pascal yet no one back then had barely heard of him, ironically at the peak of his career. yeah it's all down to exposure though really, people who don't follow boxing much will know all about carl froch this year because he was on sky sports news every day for about 6 months, and then he beat groves. and like finners said hamilton winning the world title a few weeks before the vote instead of 3 or 4 months ago like rory means he'll get more votes than if it was the other way round, too. any news on all the other awards? coach of the year and team of the year and that?
Guest MattP Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 Yeah it's weird, giving Froch an award this year would be like awarding Man U a trophy for finishing 4th this season whilst ignoring the treble they won ten years ago. Not seen any of the other nominations yet? Dave Brailsford, McGinley, team of the year will surely be the Ryder Cup lot.I I'd like to see something special for David Moyes as well.
Tom's Pasta Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 I would say Lewis Hamilton, but mainly because I have no interest in golf whatsoever so McIlroy means nothing to me
Samilktray Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 Wouldn't be a big travesty if Hamilton or Rory won it.
Donut Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 Rory McIlroy's achievements are astonishing Reclaimed world number one Won the Open Championship Won the US PGA CHampionship Won the BMW PGA Won the WGC Bridgestone Won the European Tour Race To Dubai (order of merit) Part of the winning Ryder Cup team Add that to the fact that his sponsorship deal with the Irish Open has all but saved that tournament on the European Tour schedule, he had to deal with a breakup off the course and is a good guy off the course in terms of role models for people to follow, he has to win surely.
kingfox Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 1.McIlroy 2.Hamilton 3.Pavey/Yarnold That's what I'm hoping for.
Trav Le Bleu Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 Genuinely surprised Lewis is that far behind Mcilroy in the odds. Not saying I want it to be Lewis, just imagine him being a very popular vote. Especially as people have very short term memories for these things. Always better off if you win something late in the year. Very true. I always remember many years ago a music journalist declared an album released in January as, "Already we have the album of the year!" In the end it didn't even make that magazine's 40 Best Albums of the Year. Without wanting to demean anyone's accomplishments, it's a weak line-up this year. Some that have done great achievements have been in the not so popular sports. As such it will be McIlroy, Lewis, Froch simply on popularity of the sports. Some of the people nominated will be anonymous to many of the voting public, I'm only vaguely aware of Max Whitlock and Adam Peaty.
purpleronnie Posted 25 November 2014 Posted 25 November 2014 Got to be Rory, its such an individual sport, his achievements this season beat Hamilton's achievements especially given Hamilton has one of the best F1 teams behind him.
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