WORLD heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua leads the nominations for the 2017 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
The 28-year-old former Olympic champion, currently ranked the world’s top heavyweight, is the odds-on favourite to win the award after his victory over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in April earned him the WBA and IBO belts to add to his existing IBF title.
However, he faces competition from 2014 award winner Lewis Hamilton, who won a fourth Formula One drivers’ title last month, and Chris Froome, who won his fourth Tour de France in the summer.
Mo Farah, who won the world 10,000 metres title in London but narrowly missed out on the 5,000m double, is also on the list along with Tottenham striker Harry Kane. He was the Premier League’s top scorer in 2016/17.
British women’s tennis No 1 Johanna Konta is also among the nominees having reached her best singles world ranking of four in the summer after the biggest win of her career at the Miami Open.
Short-track speed-skater Elise Christie has been recognised after becoming the first European woman to win the 1,000m, 1500m and overall gold at the World Championships in Rotterdam in March.
Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Rea, who secured a third successive World Superbikes title, is also on the list, as is Jonnie Peacock after he secured gold at the IPC World Athletics Championships in the T44 100m.
Swimmer Adam Peaty’s record-breaking achievements at the World Aquatics Championships have been recognised while England women’s cricketer Anya Shrubsole makes the list for her performance as they won the World Cup on home soil.
Bianca Walkden, who successfully defended her world taekwondo heavyweight title in South Korea, completes the 12-strong list.
The winner will be decided by public vote, with the live show taking place in Liverpool on December 17.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here