Who is your sporting hero of 2012?

The BBC’s flagship Sports Personality of the Year is never without controversy. Last year, it was the all-male shortlist which raised eyebrows.

This year, they’ve got an even harder task.

The dramatic finale to the Premiership season; the 2012 European Championships; Wimbledon; the Olympics and the Paralympics, to name just a few of the massive sporting events of 2012.

So we thought we would give them a hand – and sports reporter Jordan Jarrett-Bryan has our “alternative” list below, looking at the likely candidates, the possibilities, and the outsiders.

What a year!

What a year for sport it has been, and even more so for our British athletes. Now it’s time to decide who you think deserves the accolade of sports personality of the year.

Whose achievement ranks highest?

Whose character has come across best this year?

Who has made the biggest impact in sport in the last 12 months?

I know who I think, but who gets your vote?

Who is your sporting hero of 2012? Get in touch on Twitter @channel4news or Facebook

The frontrunners

Bradley Wiggins

The people’s champion ends the year with a clutch of medals, including his gold at the 2012 Olympics in the cycling time trials. But the achievement which some would say tops that happened 10 days earlier, when he became the first ever British cyclist to win the Tour de France.
Odds from William Hill: 2/5

He was one-third of that famous “Super Saturday” night, arguably the greatest night in Great Britain’s track and field history. Farah took gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, the first British athlete to do so. He is also the current world and European champion. But his biggest legacy from 2012? It could well be the famous Mo-Bot.
Odds from William Hill: 4/1

Andy Murray

The Scotsman finally won his first grand slam – the first Brit to do so since Fred Perry, 76 years ago. Murray’s talent was never questioned, but his ability to win a grand slam was. But he followed up an Olympic gold and silver with a historic win at the US Open – and his tears won our hearts as well.
Odds from William Hill: 7/1

Jessica Ennis

Going into the 2012 Olympic Games, the heptathlete was without doubt the face of the event. Jessica Ennis won gold in the heptathlon at 2012 and was an integral part of “Super Saturday” when she came from behind in the final event (800m) to come first – even though she had won the gold anyway. She has subsequently been awarded sports woman of the year and Olympic athlete of the year.

Odds from William Hill: 8/1

The possibilities

David Weir

If Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis were faces of the 2012 Olympic Games, then David “Werewolf” Weir was one of the faces of the Paralympic Games. The wheelchair racer from London competed in four disciplines including 800m, 1,500m, 5,000m and marathon and won gold in all four.

Odds from William Hill: 25/1

Ellie Simmonds

At the age of just 13, swimmer Ellie Simmonds was the darling of Paralympics GB team in Bejing, winning 2 golds in the 100m and 400m. She proved these were no fluke when she took two more golds in London as well as a silver and bronze.

Odds from William Hill: 50/1

Rory McIlroy

The Northern Irishman is the current number one golfer in the world. Rory is from Holywood, County Down and a member of both the European and PGA Tours and twice a majors champion. To be only 23 and the best competitor in a sport as big as golf is a special achievement.

Odds from William Hill: 125/1

Jonnie Peacock

An unknown star to come out of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Jonnie Peacock may not have the medal count to match others this year. But Peacock made sprinting for amputees cool and the legacy of his 2012 games will impact on disabled youngsters for generations to come.

Odds from William Hill: 150/1

Stephanie Houghton

Women’s football came out of the Olympics with a lot more credit than its male counterpart. And Houghton, who is a defender for the GB women’s team, had a great Olympics – both with the team and personally, scoring in three consecutive matches. Houghton has also helped England qualify for the 2013 European championships.

Odds from William Hill: 150/1

The outside chances

Nicola Adams

There was a lot of sporting history made this summer, but possibly one of the most significant records went to Nicola Adams, who became the first female boxer to win gold at the Olympic Games. How many young women have now picked up a pair of gloves as a result of Nicola’s achievements?

Odds from William Hill: 250/1<–>

Beth Tweddle

She was born on 1 April – but this gymnast is anything but a fool, with a career in the sport of 10 years plus and a cabinet full of trophies at domestic, European and world level. Beth completed an amazing 2012 with a bronze medal at the Olympic Games.

Odds from William Hill: 250/1

Heather Watson

Aged just 20, Heather Watson has made British women’s tennis exciting again. The current female British number one crowned a great year by winning the Japan Open – the first female British tennis player to win a tournament in 36 years.

Odds from William Hill: 250/1

Adam Gemili

Probably the revelation of 2012. Gemili only made the full-time transition from semi-professional football to athletics in 2011 and won gold in the world junior championships and then reached the semi-final in the 100m at the Olympics this year. Both 100m sprinter Tyson Gay and former 200m champion Michael Johnson have waxed lyrical about Gemili over the summer.

Odds from William Hill: 500/1

Ola Abidogun

A young athlete who has enjoyed a successful 12 months which was capped with a bronze medal in the 100m final of the Paralympics. The medals began earlier in the year, with gold in both the 100m and 200m at Paralympic World Cup. Abidogun is tipped as a future star of the sport in 2013.

Odds from William Hill: 500/1