Kane, Fury, Mead: Who could win the 2022 BBC Sports Personality of the Year? | OneFootball

Emma Raducanu is the reigning Sports Personality of the Year, but who are this year’s main contenders?

Raducanu, who stormed to US Open victory last September, became the first woman to win the award since Zara Tindall in 2006 and the youngest winner since Ian Black in 1958.

Meanwhile, diver Tom Daley was second and swimmer Adam Peaty finished third.

This year has already seen the home nations win a record number of medals at the Commonwealth Games and the England Lionesses claim their first ever major football tournament silverware on home soil at Euro 2022.

And though there have already been a plethora of standout individuals, there is still time for more British athletes to stake a claim, with the women’s Rugby League and Union World Cups, as well as the men’s FIFA World Cup still to come this winter.

GiveMeSport looks at who the favourites are for this year’s prize:

Beth Mead – Football

Mead inspired the Lionesses to victory at Euro 2022 – finishing as the tournament’s top goalscorer and winning the Player of the Tournament.

With more than 70 goal contributions for club and country last season, Mead has been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or Féminin award.

Ronnie O’Sullivan – Snooker

Having turned professional 30 years ago, O’Sullivan remains the world’s best snooker player and is ranked number one in the world.

This year, he beat Judd Trump at the Crucible to clinch his seventh World Championship title –– equalling Stephen Hendry’s all-time record.

Holly Doyle – Horse Racing

Doyle came third in the 2020 Sports Personality of the Year and was named The Sunday Times sportswoman of the year.

This year, she became the first female jockey to win a French Classic and the first British female jockey to win a European Classic when she rode Nashwa to victory in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly.

Tyson Fury – Boxing

Fury has had a frosty relationship with the Sports Personality Awards in the past.

Last year, the heavyweight boxer was nominated for the award, despite demanding not to be and he subsequently urged his supporters not to vote.

This year, Fury beat Dillian Whyte at Wembley to retain the WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles and may well be nominated again.

Sarah Hunter – Rugby Union

Hunter captains the Red Roses and her side are currently on a record 25-match win streak.

England head into this year’s World Cup as the number one ranked side in the world and Hunter will surely be in contention for the Sports Personality award if England win the tournament.

Harry Kane – Football

Kane now has 51 goals for England and is only two away from equalling Wayne Rooney’s record.

He could well surpass the former Man United star at this year’s World Cup and if Gareth Southgate’s side do manage to go one better than they did at the Euros – then Kane is absolutely guaranteed to be on the shortlist.