Mo Farah snub in Spoty award ‘really sad’, says Alistair Brownlee <p>• Double Olympic champion finished only fourth in voting<br>• ‘Maybe some people don’t see him as British’</p><p>Alistair Brownlee has admitted his surprise that Mo Farah yet again failed to make the top three of the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday night and suggested it might be because “some people don’t see him as British”.</p><p>Brownlee said he would have voted for Farah, who came fourth in the awards despite <a href="">retaining his Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m titles in style in Rio</a>, and felt it was “really sad” that he did not get the respect his success deserved.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Andy Murray wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016 award</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016 – behind the scenes</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> BBC Sports Personality of the

 Year Andy Murray Andy Murray’s Sports Personality treble shows how he has won over the nation | Kevin Mitchell <p>Britons are slow to embrace genius but winning the BBC award for a third time underscores the Scot’s right to be considered our greatest athlete</p><p>Anyone But Murray, eh?

The ABM meme could hardly seem more tatty and irrelevant now, seven years after it was spawned with spite and ignorance, before the difficult Scot had proved Little Englanders and other snipers wrong with his eloquent tennis racket.</p><p>Instead, the question that is now being asked – and answered in the affirmative – across nearly every media platform is an uplifting one: is Andy Murray this country’s greatest-ever athlete?</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Andy Murray concerned about father’s wedding, not knighthood or Spoty title</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">How Andy Murray chased down Novak Djokovic to end 2016 on top of the world | Andy Bull</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Andy Murray’s work ethic is behind his rise to No1 and he can stay there | Kevin Mitchell</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Andy Murray Andy Murray wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016 award <p>World tennis No 1 becomes first person to win award three times, with triathlete Alistair Brown

lee second and equestrian Nick Skelton third</p><p>Andy Murray capped a glorious year, in which he lifted the Wimbledon title, stormed to Olympic gold and became the first British tennis player to reach No 1 in the world, by winning Sports Personality of the Year for a record third time.</p><p>Murray, a massive 1-7 on favourite with bookmakers beforehand, beat the gold medal-winning triathlete Alistair Brownlee into second place, with 58-year-old showjumper <a draggable="true" href="">Nick Skelton</a>, who became the oldest British gold medallist since 1908 in Rio, in third.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> BBC Sports Personality of the Year Sport Sean Ingle 2016-12-19T07:48:53Z Relief at the Beeb as, for once in 2016, voters get it spot on with Andy Murray | Barry Glendenning Tennis’s white-hot favourite collects Sports Personality of the Year award but the triathlete Alistair Brownlee surprises with his second place<p>‘The people have spoken ...

the bastards,” a waspish Dick Tuck observed following his failure to make the California State Senate in 1966. At the end of a year in which electorates throughout the UK and beyond have proved time and again they simply cannot be trusted to make even the simplest choice, it is a sentiment with which BBC panjandrums were happy not to concur at the end of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year beano in Birmingham on Sunday night.</p><p>They had been utterly terrified the Great British Public would select a one‑two-three of Andy Murray, Mo Farah and Gareth Bale – three sporting high-achievers who it was known would not be present in person on the night.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> BBC Sports Personality of the Year Andy Murray Andy Murray wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year for third time – video <p>Andy Murray is announced as the winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award for 2016 at an award ceremony in Birmingham on Sunday night. Murray, in Miami due to training commitments, receives his award from former heavyweight boxer Lennox Lewis and jokes that his wife didn’t vote for him.

He becomes the first person to win the award three times</p><ul><li><a href="">Andy Murray wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016</a></li><li><a href="">The official BBC Sports Personality of the Year website</a></li></ul> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> BBC Sports Personality of the Year Andy Murray Andy Murray wins Sports Personality of the Year 2016 – as it happened <p>Andy Murray became the first three-time winner of the BBC award, with fellow Olympic gold medallists Alistair Brownlee and Nick Skelton second and third</p><p><a href="">Report: Murray wins Sports Personality of the Year 2016</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T21:12:56.956Z">9.12pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>That’s all from me. Congratulations to Andy Murray, who has chalked up another piece of history with his third SPOTY crown after rising to the top of the tennis world.

One of the few prizes left for him to sew up is the title of Britain’s greatest ever athlete. </p><p>It was also a good night for runners-up Alistair Brownlee and Nick Skelton, while away from the Olympics, Leicester City took home team and coach of the year for their fairytale Premier League success. Thanks for joining me.

Goodnight.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Andy Murray wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T21:07:41.285Z">9.07pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p><strong>Sports Personality of the Year:</strong> Andy Murray</p><p><strong>Overseas Personality:</strong> Simone Biles</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T21:05:37.033Z">9.05pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Murray picks up the award from Lennox Lewis poolside in Miami, and his speech is another low-key, bone-dry masterpiece:</p><p>“I’d like to thank everyone who voted, I really appreciate your support.

And I’d like to thank my team, they make a lot of sacrifices for me, they’re away from their family at times of the year like this.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T21:03:51.871Z">9.03pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>He becomes the first player to win the award three times, completing a stellar year in style.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T21:02:46.193Z">9.02pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>The triathlete is the second Rio 2016 gold medallist on the podium.

I predict a third...</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T21:02:07.367Z">9.02pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>As the bookies predicted, equestrian and Rio gold medallist Skelton comes home in third place.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:55:36.327Z">8.55pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Before the main award is announced, there will be a moment to remember those lost to the sporting world this year, beginning with Muhammad Ali and Johan Cruyff, both among the greatest athletes who ever lived.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Muhammad Ali remembered by Davis Miller</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Johan Cruyff remembered by Bob Wilson</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time

"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:49:49.643Z">8.49pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p><strong>Team of the year!

</strong>Has this ever been more closely fought? England’s rugby union team. Wales’ football team. The British women’s hockey team. Team GB. ParalympicsGB. Leicester, for god’s sake.</p><p>The award goes to... <strong>Leicester City! </strong>I had a feeling the hockey team would sneak it, but it’s hard to argue. 5000-1, an unrepeatable, unbelievable triumph.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:47:59.339Z">8.47pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Phelps is here, and receives his award from Ian Thorpe and Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge. A balanced relay team, there.</p><p>“My career started with a dream to win <em>an</em> Olympic medal” says Phelps. “I had a lot of memorable races in my career, but to be able to retire the way I wanted to has been the dream.

It’s an honour to stand in front of these athletes, the goals and dreams they have, and not giving up. Thank you, this means absolutely the world.”</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:43:33.675Z">8.43pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Staying with American Olympic superheroes, it’s time for the lifetime award. It’s going to <strong>Michael Phelps</strong>, the man with the wingspan of a light aircraft, and the gold medal haul of an Eastern bloc country.

</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Michael Phelps caps a glittering Olympic career with one final swimming gold</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:40:20.906Z">8.40pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Which brings us to the <strong>Overseas Sports Personality of the Year</strong>... it’s not Bolt... it’s not Ronaldo...

it’s Rio quadruple gold-medallist <strong>Simone Biles!</strong></p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">The extraordinary Simone Biles, the best athlete in America today</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:39:20.831Z">8.39pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Two hours in, and we’ve given up on sensible segues – lurching from a round-up of England’s unbeaten year under Eddie Jones, to an Olympic montage, featuring Bolt, Phelps, Van Niekerk, Neymar, the Fiji sevens team – all your favourites. </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:32:00.947Z">8.32pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Up next: Robbie Williams – not the former Barnsley and Stockport stalwart, but the popular singer.

What did our Olympic heroes do to deserve this?</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Can only assume Robbie Williams is contractually obliged to appear on every BBC programme this month.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:30:17.616Z">8.30pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>We’re into the home straight now – the US win the Ryder Cup, Wigan take the Super League, Bangladesh beat England for the first time in a Test, and Chicago is rocked by the Cubs, and the Irish, in the same week. Nico Rosberg wins the F1 title, then retires.

And finally: Anthony Joshua, the heavyweight champion who, unlike Tyson Fury, didn’t merit a nomination.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:28:08.329Z">8.28pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p><strong>The Helen Rollason award goes to Ben Smith</strong>. Bullied as a teenager, he helped to raise money for anti-bullying charities by running 401 marathons in 401 days. An extraordinary achievement.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Man runs 401 marathons in 401 days in anti-bullying fundraiser</a> </p><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="">@niallmcveigh</a> shockingly few people on their feet for Ben Smith. 401 marathons in 401 days?

Raised over £250K - get on your feet !!!</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:23:23.569Z">8.23pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>So we’ve had the entire British women’s team, and the whole Leicester City squad, out on the stage – but no team of the year prize yet. Is this Aston Villa’s year?</p><p>Voting for the main award is now open, by the way. You can vote <a href="">via the BBC website</a>, but hurry back.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:18:26.140Z">8.18pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Time for the final contender: <strong>Kate Richardson-Walsh</strong>, captain of the British women’s hockey team, who won gold against the odds in Rio.

Kate’s wife Helen scored the winning penalty in a shootout against the Netherlands, before the captain ended her career on the ultimate high. She’s the first ever hockey player (field or ice) to get a SPOTY nomination.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Great Britain’s Kate Richardson-Walsh: You’re not playing hockey to be a star</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:15:49.012Z">8.15pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Here’s Simon McMahon:</p><p>“If (when) Murray wins, you can bet his acceptance speech will be as low key and laid back as the one just shown. Andy doesn’t do exaggeration or hype. That’s why I love him.

Britain’s greatest ever sportsperson ...?”</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:14:08.207Z">8.14pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>A man in an Iceland shirt is banging a big drum, coercing the crowd into an awkward ‘Viking thunderclap’. That means one thing – time for a <strong>Euro 2016 look-back</strong>. England are wisely sidestepped, with Tom Jones talking us through a Wales-centric montage.</p><p><strong>Gareth Bale</strong> is nominated for the award, having also won the Champions League this year, although for me, Hal Robson-Kanu should be handed the trophy outright for <em>that</em> goal against Belgium.

Portugal won the whole thing, of course – the 87th biggest surprise of 2016.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Euro 2016: Guardian writers pick their highs and lows from France</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:06:31.040Z">8.06pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Time for a look back at Wimbledon. <a href="">‘Member Marcus Willis?</a> And the Open, won by Henrik Stenson after a brilliant battle with Phil Mickelson. England v Pakistan, Hull FC won the Challenge Cup, and Argentina ended Great Britain’s Davis Cup unbeaten run.

Thanks for nothing, Andy.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:03:50.659Z">8.03pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Also nominated from the equestrian world is Paralympic gold medallist <strong>Sophie Christiansen</strong>. She won three gold medals in Rio, bringing her career total to 10 golds. When she’s not piling up medals, Christiansen works as a statistical analyst for Goldman Sachs.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T20:01:10.456Z">8.01pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Next up, <strong>Nick Skelton</strong>, whose long equestrian career looked over in 2000, when he broke his neck in a fall. 16 years later, he won a six-way jump-off to claim Olympic gold at the age of 58.

He’s an outside bet for a podium place later on. <strong>Fun fact:</strong> Skelton and his children learned to ride on the same pony – Oxo, who lived to the age of 39. <strong>Fun fact two: </strong>Skelton’s autobiography is called Only Falls and Horses.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Nick Skelton: 'I landed on my head and broke my neck' | Small Talk</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:56:45.645Z">7.56pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Murray’s 2016 started badly (by his standards), with defeats to Novak Djokovic in Paris and Melbourne.

Then Sam Querrey dumped Djokovic out of Wimbledon, and Murray grasped the nettle – winning a second Wimbledon (and third Grand Slam), defending his Olympic title and then, most remarkable of all, becoming the world No1 after an astonishing run of form.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">How Andy Murray chased down Novak Djokovic to end 2016 on top of the world | Andy Bull</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:51:51.291Z">7.51pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Now we relive Chris Froome’s imperious Tour de France victory, a historic triumph for which he was not even nominated.

Moving swiftly on, time to talk <strong>Andy Murray...</strong></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:49:42.373Z">7.49pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Eddie Izzard takes to the stage, alongside tireless Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall, to introduce the Unsung Hero award.

Fifteen volunteer coaches from Britain’s nations and regions were nominated for the prize, with <strong>Marcellus Baz</strong>, coach at the Nottingham School of Boxing, announced as the winner.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:45:46.132Z">7.45pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>The Annual Montage, part two: Highlights include Alistair Cook getting to 10,000 runs, ring titles for Michael Bisping and Tony Bellew, and Alan Pardew’s dance.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:43:45.964Z">7.43pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Cox: “Sport saved my life... it kept me going, kept me driven.

It helped me forget the situation I was in, the times I was up all night with spasms.”<br>Storey: “Swimming led me to cycling, and the dedication I needed then helped me. It was four years ago that I announced I was pregnant – don’t worry, I’m not doing that tonight – and I realised after winning at the worlds that Rio was on.”</p><p>It’s unlikely, but I’d be delighted to see either of those two on the podium later.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:38:18.076Z">7.38pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>The focus is now on Cox and Storey, two of the most extraordinary athletes on this, or any shortlist.

Cox won golds and set two world records in two sports – athletics and cycling – just two years after a stroke led to a diagnosis of MS.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Kadeena Cox: ‘I wanted to show it can be done even if you have setbacks’</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Sarah Storey: ‘It would be amazing to see a Paralympian with the Spoty trophy’</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:35:15.958Z">7.35pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Now we’re headlong into another montage, this time for the Paralympic Games, where Britain came second in the medal table with 64 golds.

Three winners are nominated for tonight’s main award – <strong>Sarah Storey, Sophie Christiansen </strong>and <strong>Kadeena Cox</strong> – while 15-year-old swimmer Ellie Robinson has won the Young Sports Personality award.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:31:53.729Z">7.31pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Next nominee (they’re racing through them) – it’s <strong>Mo Farah</strong>, double-double Olympic gold medallist and conqueror of the Cube. It’s not all been plain sailing off the track for Farah, but his 10,000m triumph after falling was one of the year’s most gripping moments. He’s in Dubai, a reflection of his 66-1 odds, which is faintly ridiculous given what he’s achieved.

He is Britain’s most successful track and field athlete of all time.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:28:48.827Z">7.28pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Jessica Ennis-Hill gets a special mention, after her 2011 world championship silver was upgraded to gold after Tatyana Chernova was <a href="">found guilty of doping</a>. Weird thing to draw attention to, if I’m honest.</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="">@niallmcveigh</a> Hazards goal is coincidentally when most <a href="">#LCFC</a> fans believed we could win the title too!

<a href="">#kingclaudio</a> <a href="">#SPOTY</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:27:11.921Z">7.27pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p><strong>Claudio Ranieri is coach of the year! </strong>They rather snuck that one on us, mid-interview with Ranieri, who looks close to tears. </p><p>“I didn’t expect this, it’s fantastic. I can only say thank you again to my players, my chairman, all my staff – but without our fans, it wasn’t possible.”</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:24:42.578Z">7.24pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Does anyone else still wake with a start at 3am, and remember that Leicester City won the Premier League? No? Just me?

We’re now enjoying a feature-length montage of their miracle success, culminating in <strong>Jamie Vardy</strong>’s ultimate house party when they clinched the title.</p><p>Vardy, in contention for the main individual award, but is quick to point out “I couldn’t have done any of it without the boys behind me”. Can they win the Champions League, asks Lineker. “Stranger things have happened.” Indeed they have.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Leicester City’s triumph: the inside story of an extraordinary season | Stuart James</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:18:48.758Z">7.18pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>The Kennys are on stage now. Jason has a nice line in dry humour: “I didn’t know how many keirin experts were out there,” while Laura talks about her pride at being part of so much female success this year.

There’s a slightly risqué magazine shot on the screen behind them that sends them into embarrassed giggles. And now, <a href="">the year in snooker</a>.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:15:51.817Z">7.15pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Next up, it’s a pair that Balding introduces as “the king and queen of the velodrome” – it’s <strike> Shane Sutton and </strike> Jason and Laura Kenny. The cameras visit them at home, in a bit of VT that’s unbearably twee, before going over their Rio achievements.</p><p>They won five Olympic gold medals and three World golds between them this year.

If it were an independent republic, the Kenny household would have finished 19th in the Rio 2016 medal table, above Canada and New Zealand.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:11:19.298Z">7.11pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Willett and Brownlee out on the stage now, with the latter getting a big round of applause from his fellow athletes. What did Brownlee say to his brother Jonny as he hauled him over the line in Mexico? “You effing idiot” is the gist.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:06:43.618Z">7.06pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Next, the second favourite for the award, and the first triathlete to ever be nominated.

It’s <strong>Alistair Brownlee, </strong>who added triathlon gold in Rio to his victory in London with a dominant performance, before helping his brother Jonny over the finish line at an event in Mexico, destined to be forever misremembered as the Olympic race itself.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Alistair Brownlee: ‘Mexico brought us to people’s attention’</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:05:08.200Z">7.05pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Poor overlooked Justin Rose provides a neat segue from Olympics to golf, and <strong>Danny Willett</strong>, who <a href="">won the Masters from nowhere</a> in April.

Willett thought he would miss the Masters with his wife due to give birth – but his son arrived early and he travelled to Augusta, held his nerve as Jordan Spieth collapsed, and ended a 20-year wait for a British green jacket.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:03:02.164Z">7.03pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Time for a montage from the start of the year: Jo Konta’s Australian Open run, Peyton Manning wins the Super Bowl, Gary Anderson defends his PDC darts title, and Ross County win a League Cup they’ve <a href="">already had to hand over</a> to Celtic.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T19:00:27.284Z">7.00pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Whitlock: “It’s crazy, really exciting...

where we are today, we could never have imagined this ten years ago. I believe success breeds success, so I hope I can inspire the next generation”</p><p>He says that he got a standing ovation outside a restaurant, which was “unheard of for a gymnast”. Don’t they get one every time they nail a big landing?</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T18:58:24.733Z">6.58pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Here’s a third Olympian, <strong>Max Whitlock</strong> – putting Peaty and Adams <em>to shame</em> by doing his sport live on stage.

Hard as it is to weigh up the scale of each Olympic, and Paralympic, achievement, I think Whitlock should be shorter than 100-1 for this award – he ended a 116-year wait for a British gymnastic gold, then got another two hours later.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T18:56:09.605Z">6.56pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Peaty and Adams take the stage together. Here’s a few words from both:</p><p>Peaty: “How did I do it? Just swim two lengths. It’s as simple as that...

I’m massively proud to be British, and I was so happy to get the first gold.”</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T18:52:49.824Z">6.52pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Moving swiftly on (there are a lot of Olympians to get through), it’s boxer <strong>Nicola Adams. </strong>She became the first British boxer to retain an Olympic title after winning gold in the women’s flyweight in Rio, and also won a world amateur title this year.

Next up: Adams will guest-edit Radio 4’s Today programme next week.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Nicola Adams: ‘I’d love to see a woman headlining a boxing show’</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T18:50:55.526Z">6.50pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Time to introduce the first contender: <strong>Adam Peaty</strong>, who got Team GB’s party started in Rio, winning their first gold medal in thunderous fashion – beating his own world record in the 100m breaststroke final. It was also the first gold for a British male swimmer since 1988.

Well worth staying up until 3am for, and not bad for a guy who grew up scared of water.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Adam Peaty wins first Olympic gold and breaks world record again</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T18:48:04.866Z">6.48pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>The three amigos are now running through how to vote. It would be remiss of me not to point you <a href="">over here</a>, where you can place a vote for free.

There are clearly a lot of Leicester fans in the house – every mention of nominee Jamie Vardy and his fabulous Foxes is getting a big old cheer.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T18:44:12.714Z">6.44pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>We open with a montage – the first, I’ll wager, of many – with Birmingham’s own Laura Mvula providing the soundtrack, performing ‘Feeling Good’. Usain Bolt pops up on a VT to introduce “the three amigos” – Gabby Logan, Clare Balding and Gary Lineker.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T18:37:51.052Z">6.37pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Gary Lineker will be getting the show started in Birmingham imminently.

Last year, he cut his finger on the trophy, and has since presented a live TV show in his pants, so it can only get better.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T18:34:15.232Z">6.34pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>What’s coming up tonight?

The main award will close the night (unless there’s a spectacular break from tradition), with a selection of other gongs to be handed out:</p><p><strong>Coach of the year:</strong> England’s Eddie Jones and Leicester’s Claudio Ranieri are among the favourites.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Who will win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year team award?</a> </p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T18:25:17.332Z">6.25pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Now, the ceremony doesn’t get under way on TV for 20 minutes yet, so rather than live blogging Countryfile, I’m asking for <strong>your highlights of the sporting year</strong>.

Here’s John McEnerney:</p><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="">@niallmcveigh</a> Ireland forming an 8 in memory of Axel Foley to face The Haka &amp; then beating NZ 4 the 1st time in The Windy City! Super stuff!

<a href="">pic.twitter.com/LnHc5gBvaO</a></p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T17:09:04.349Z">5.09pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>Nicola Adams (boxing)<br>Gareth Bale (football)<br>Alistair Brownlee (triathlon)<br>Sophie Christiansen (equestrian)<br>Kadeena Cox (Cycling and athletics)<br>Mo Farah (athletics)<br>Jason Kenny (cycling)<br>Laura Kenny (cycling)<br>Andy Murray (tennis)<br>Adam Peaty (swimming)<br>Kate Richardson-Walsh (hockey)<br>Nick Skelton (equestrian)<br>Dame Sarah Storey (cycling)<br>Jamie Vardy (football)<br>Max Whitlock (gymnastics)<br>Danny Willett (golf)</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T17:0

8:04.042Z">5.08pm <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p>2016: it was, within the specific field of British sporting prowess, a very good year.

</p><p>After 12 months of success headlined by unprecedented Olympic and Paralympic gold medal hauls, 13 Rio winners join the Masters golf champion and winners of the Premier and Champions League on a glittering feature-length shortlist.</p><p class="block-time published-time"> <time datetime="2016-12-18T00:27:43.503Z">12.27am <span class="timezone">GMT</span></time> </p><p><strong>Pre-bash reading</strong></p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Who will win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year team award?</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">The Anti-Sports Personality of the Year awards 2016 | Simon Burnton</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Spoty's unlucky losers: from Dennis Taylor to Gary Lineker</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Sports Personality of the Year 2016: when it’s on,

 what to expect and how to vote</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> BBC Sports Personality of the Year BBC Sarah Storey: ‘It would be amazing to see a Paralympian with the Spoty trophy’ Multiple Paralympic cycling gold medallist does not expect to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year but will enjoy being a nominee and hopes para-sport continues to enjoy greater coverage<p>Dame Sarah Storey will not be letting her slim chances of success at Sunday’s <em>BBC Sports Personality of the Year</em> spoil her fun.

“It’s an opportunity for the para-cycling team to get back together and party,” says Britain’s most decorated female Paralympian, with a laugh. Storey is a rank outsider to win what she describes as the annual “personality contest”, as are just about all 16 of the nominated athletes bar Andy Murray, but at the end of her historic year she is determined to enjoy the show.</p><p><em>Spoty</em> history is certainly against the 39-year-old, who <a href="" title="">surpassed Tanni Grey-Thompson’s haul of 11 gold medals in Rio</a> and created one of the lasting images of the Games as she celebrated with her three-year-old daughter. Storey is well aware that a Paralympic athlete has never won the award and feels the responsibility for more than only para-sport.

“The last time a mum won was Liz McColgan in 1991, the last time a female won was 10 years ago [Zara Phillips] and the last time a Paralympian was on the stage was Tanni Grey-Thompson in 2000.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Dame Sarah Storey's roadmap for women's cycling and para-cycling</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Nicola Adams: ‘I’d love to see a woman headlining a boxing show’</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Sarah Storey Lawrence Ostlere 2016-12-17T20:59:32Z Sports Personality of the Year 2016: when it’s on, what to expect and how to vote Back in 1954 Spoty was a reserved, solemn affair. This year’s it’s an arena stage show starring Robbie Williams<p>Sunday, from 6.40pm.

When “<em>Spoty</em>” began in 1954 it was a low-key affair: 45 minutes in total, including a no-frills 45-second trophy presentation. This year there’s a different vibe: two hours and 20 minutes of montage, music and uneasy banter, featuring an unprecedented 16-strong shortlist for the main award. It all takes place at Birmingham’s Genting Arena – the fourth time it has been staged in Birmingham. Aside from London, no other city has staged it more than once.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Who will win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year team award?</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">The Anti-Sports Personality of the Year awards 2016 | Simon Burnton</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> BBC Sports Personality of the Year Sport Who will win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year team award?

<p>Leicester City’s unlikely Premier League title is likely to make them favourites, but they will have strong competition from Team GB, Wales’s footballers and England’s rugby union side</p><p>If the most important factor for the judges is which team’s achievement was the most unlikely, they should look no further than Leicester City. Money doesn’t just talk in the Premier League, it stands an inch from your ear and shouts into it with a megaphone, and no one, probably not even <a href="">Claudio Ranieri’s mother</a>, had Leicester down as title contenders. <a href="">Promoted from the Championship in 2014</a>, they had <a href="">escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth</a> and many tipped them to go down after they sacked Nigel Pearson to bring in Ranieri. Yet once Leicester gained momentum, they were unstoppable. Jamie Vardy could not stop scoring, Riyad Mahrez produced moments of pure beauty, N’Golo Kanté ruled central midfield and they played as a team, overcoming their lack of experience by maintaining their resolve until the end.

Shocks on that scale are rare in modern football, which is why Leicester’s triumph was a victory for the little guy.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">GB women win historic hockey gold with shootout victory over Netherlands</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> BBC Sports Personality of the Year Leicester City Nicola Adams: ‘I’d love to see a woman headlining a boxing show’ The BBC Sports Personality of the Year contender became the first British boxer to retain an Olympic title in Rio and with the possibility of turning pro or a tilt at Tokyo 2020, she is not ready to call it a day yet<p>It is 20 August 2016 and something unusual is happening in the complex of buildings known as the Riocentro. <a href="" title="">Nicola Adams has just won the gold medal in the women’s flyweight division</a>, beating France’s Sarah Ourahmoune on points to become the first Briton to retain an Olympic boxing title.

But that is not the unusual bit, it is the fact that she is crying about it.</p><p>“I hadn’t cried for I don’t know how many years, it felt a bit odd,” says Adams recalling the moment with a trademark chuckle. “I got to the podium and I was so emotional I couldn’t help myself.

I’m not a crier, I don’t even really get emotional, but I just remember thinking ‘Wow, I’ve done it’, and the last four years flashed back in front of me.”</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Nicola Adams left out of GB boxing squad and set to turn professional</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">The Anti-Sports Personality of the Year awards 2016 | Simon Burnton</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Nicola Adams Alistair Brownlee: ‘Mexico brought us to people’s attention’ Britain’s Olympic gold medallist and his brother Jonny succeeded in putting triathlon on the sporting map in a dramatic summer for the sport<p>“Well, I have been helping old ladies across the road,” says a deadpan Alistair Brownlee. “And we’ve turned on every Christmas light in Leeds and asked people to vote,” interjects his brother Jonny. “Yeah, more than once,” agrees Alistair. Welcome to electioneering Brownlee style.

Sharp as a tack – yet refreshingly tongue in cheek with it.</p><p>Some athletes take the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award desperately seriously. Alistair, while hugely proud to be on the 16-strong shortlist and be second favourite for the award behind Andy Murray, is not one of them. In fact, he has a disarming confession. “It’s amazing to be there,” he says, “especially in such a special year.

Although I wonder how much traction I would have got without the Mexico incident.”</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Alistair Brownlee gives up chance to win World Triathlon race and helps brother Jonny over line</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Alistair Brownlee claims triathlon gold and Jonny takes silver at Rio 2016</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">The Anti-Sports Personality of the Year awards 2016 | Simon Burnton</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Alistair Brownlee The Anti-Sports Personality of the Year awards 2016 | Simon Burnton <p>Before the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year awards on Sunday celebrate the best of 2016, here are our anti-heroes from the sporting world this year</p><p>Shortly before the Rio Olympics Lochte gave an interview to GQ in which he said: “Now that I’m more mature, it’s time to focus on the swimming part [of his life] and less on the outside part.”

 Sadly it turned out he wasn’t more mature after all.

He won one relay gold, but also caught the eye when his freshly bleached hair reacted to the chlorine in the Olympic pool by turning a fetching shade of mint green.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Emotional Ryan Lochte sorry for 'stupid mistake' and 'shenanigans' at gas station</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Rio 2016: Olympic boxing tournament hit by corruption allegations</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Gianni Infantino and Fifa seem to have a new plan: to kill the World Cup | Marina Hyde</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> BBC Sports Personality of the Year Ryan Lochte Spoty's unlucky losers: from Dennis Taylor to Gary Lineker <p>Gary Lineker won the World Cup golden boot but wasn’t among the top three at Spoty in 1986, when Nigel Mansell won the award for finishing second in the F1 championship.

The British electorate, eh?</p><p>By <a href="">Steven Pye</a> for <a href="">That 1980s Sports Blog</a>, part of the <a href="">Guardian Sport Network</a><br></p><p>English rugby union was not a raging success during the first 25 years of the BBC Sports Review of the Year. By the start of the 1980 Five Nations, England had not won the championship since 1963, the Triple Crown since 1960 and the grand slam since 1957. England expects? Not very much when it came to the rugby union team in this period.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Sports Personality of the Year 2016: who should win the award?

–&nbsp;poll</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> BBC Sports Personality of the Year BBC Great Britain’s Kate Richardson-Walsh: You’re not playing hockey to be a star The captain of Britain’s gold-medal winning women’s hockey team in Rio admits it is still a surprise to be nominated for Sports Personality of the Year<p>Kate Richardson-Walsh has been practising her smile. “The famous Oscar-losing smile,” she says, revealing that she has barely given any thought to the possibility of being named Sports Personality of the Year next weekend, despite the role she played in helping <a href="" title="">Great Britain win women’s hockey gold</a> at the Olympics, and is concentrating more on how she will react if one of the other 15 athletes on the shortlist walks on stage to collect the award.</p><p>Richardson-Walsh was GB’s redoubtable captain when they beat the Netherlands on penalties in a memorable final in Rio but she does not expect to win this one.

“The odds are low,” she says, although she does allow herself a moment of cheery optimism, self-deprecatingly noting that 2016 has been the year of the underdog.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">‘We must continue to dream big’: an open letter from Serena Williams</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> BBC Sports Personality of the Year Hockey Surely Leicester’s effort beats Team GB or England rugby for Spoty team award?

| Paul Wilson Rio Olympic Games were a gold medal fest and Eddie Jones has transformed England but only one team induced panic at bookmakers and forced Gary Lineker to go on live TV in his underwear<p>Football has tended to be under-represented in the <a href="">BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year</a> awards, partly due to the fact team games do not always advance individuals for special recognition and partly because it has been a while since teams made the sort of statement beyond these shores that they did in 1966 or 1999.</p><p>Traditionally the award for team of the year has gone to World Cup winners or significant European champions such as Celtic in 1967 and Manchester United a year later. There has been only one team of the year winner from football this millennium, and you could be forgiven for forgetting which one.

Don’t bother looking it up, Gérard Houllier’s Liverpool were awarded the prize in 2001 for winning both domestic cups and the Uefa trophy.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Leicester’s Fantastic Foxes have taught the Premier League elite a lesson | Daniel Taylor</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Andy Murray heads Spoty list but no place for Chris Froome and others</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> BBC Sports Personality of the Year Leicester City Murray in, Wiggins out: it’s Spoty time again – let the carping commence | Barry Glendenning A shortlist dominated by Rio winners means some startling omissions, such as England’s all-conquering rugby players and even some of Team GB’s biggest achievers, but each of the contenders deserves their place<p>While the presence of the world tennis No1 Andy Murray on the <a href="" title="">shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year</a> suggests the outcome of the public vote will be a formality, there are several conspicuous inclusions and absentees from a roll of honour that largely comprises Olympians

 and Paralympians nominated for their contributions to Team GB’s record‑breaking medal hauls in Rio.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Sports Personality of the Year 2016: who should win the award?

–&nbsp;poll</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Andy Murray heads Spoty list but no place for Chris Froome and others</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> BBC Sports Personality of the Year Andy Murray Ronnie O’Sullivan: snooker’s treatment by BBC’s Spoty is ‘complete insult’ • ‘Snooker is like a car-boot sale but with other sports it’s shopping at Harrods’<br />• No snooker player has made Spoty shortlist since its introduction in 2010<p>Ronnie O’Sullivan insists a “car-boot sale” mentality is responsible for snooker’s continued omission from the shortlist for the <a href="" title="">BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award</a>.</p><p>The five-times world champion described the sport’s treatment by the programme as “a complete insult” but says it is inevitable given what he believes is a continued cheapening of the game.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Ronnie O’Sullivan should give snooker a break and show some respect | Ewan Murray</a> </p>

 <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Ronnie O'Sullivan Andy Murray heads Spoty list but no place for Chris Froome and others • World No1 chases third BBC Sports Personality of the Year award<br />• Olympians and paralympians dominate Spoty list<p>Andy Murray heads an expanded 16-strong shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, which is predictably dominated by Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic stars.

But there is no place for the <a href="">triple Tour de France winner Chris Froome</a> or Sir Bradley Wiggins, whose exploits in Rio made him the most decorated British athlete in Olympic history.</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Sports Personality of the Year 2016: who should win the award? –&nbsp;poll</a> </p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Ronnie O’Sullivan: snooker’s treatment by BBC’s Spoty is ‘complete insult’</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> BBC Sports Personality of the Year Andy Murray Sports Personality of the Year 2016: who should win the award? – poll <p>Andy Murray’s victories at Wimbledon, the Olympics and the ATP World Tour Finals make him the favourite for the award, but who has earned your vote?</p><p>Andy Murray is threatening to make the BBC’s annual sports awards show a little boring. No one has ever won the award three times – not even a Formula One driver – but Murray looks set to win it for the third time in four years.

</p><p> <span>Related: </span><a href="">Andy Murray heads SPOTY list but there is no place for Chris Froome and others</a> </p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> BBC Sports Personality of the Year Sport SPOTY 2015: Andy Murray is voted Sports Personality of the Year 2015 - Belfast Newsletter SPOTY 2015: Andy Murray is voted Sports Personality of the Year 2015 Winner of 2015 Sports Personality of the Year Andy Murray 21:40 Sunday 20 December 2015 Have your say The public have crowned Andy Murray as BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015. Votes were cast online and by telephone during the ceremony at The SSE Arena in Belfast, live on BBC One. Kevin Sinfield came second, with Jessica Ennis-Hill in third place. The awards were presented by Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan in front of a 7,500 strong crowd in Belfast, the first time the event has been hosted in Northern Ireland.

The ceremony reflected on a year which included sporting highlights such as the Rugby World Cup, the World Athletics Championship, a Women’s Football World Cup and an Ashes series in the UK. Team of the Year was awarded to Great Britain’s Davis Cup team in recognition of winning the trophy for the first time in 79 years. Captain Leon Smith collected the award alongside Kyle Edmund, Dan Evans, Dominic Inglot, Andy Murray, Jamie Murray and James Ward, who all contributed to the historic triumph. Andy Murray sealed victory in the final against Belgium meaning he won all 11 matches he played in the tournament this year. The award was presented by Martin O’Neill and Dame Mary Peters. Dan Carter was named as Overseas Sports Personality of the Year prior to the event in Belfast. He beat Usain Bolt, Novak Djokovic, Katie Ledecky, Jordan Spieth and Serena Williams to the prize after the award was decided by a public vote for the first time. The Racing 92 fly-half won the World Rugby Player of the Year award after his performances helped New Zealand win the Rugby World Cup. He was man-of-the-match in the final, scoring 19 points as the All Blacks beat rivals Australia.

It was the third time in his glittering career he has been named as the best player in the world. Ellie Downie was named as the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and was presented with the award by boxer Carl Frampton and athlete Dina Asher-Smith. The sixteen-year-old gymnast made history when she became the first British female to win an individual all-around medal for Great Britain at the European Championships with a bronze. The Nottingham youngster also helped secure Great Britain’s first ever team medal at a World Championships when they also picked up a bronze. The Helen Rollason Award was presented to eight-year-old Bailey Matthews. Despite having cerebral palsy, Bailey completed the Castle Howard Triathlon in North Yorkshire in July, conquering the 100m swim, 4km bike ride and 1.3km run. Bailey’s inspirational story was widely reported around the world and he has been recognised for his outstanding achievement in the face of adversity. One Direction’s Niall Horan presented Bailey with the trophy alongside two-time Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington. The award is presented in memory of Helen Rollason, the BBC presenter who died from cancer 15 years ago in 1999 at the age of 43.

The BBC Get Inspired Unsung Hero award for 2015 was presented to Damien Lindsay, a football coach from west Belfast. The Unsung Hero award honours individuals from the world of grassroots sport and recognises those who, on a voluntary basis, go the extra mile to contribute to sport in their local community. Damien formed St James Swifts Football Club to encourage local children to become involved in sport as opposed to anti-social behaviour. Damien was selected from 15 regional winners from across the UK and was presented the award in his hometown by Eddie Izzard and Jordanne Whiley. Sign in

Question: Eight year old Bailey Matthews who has cerebral palsy won an award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2015 ‘for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity’ named after which late female Sports presenter?
Answer: Helen Rollason