England goalkeeper Mary Earps is the favourite to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year as the six contenders were confirmed on Tuesday morning.
The Lionesses star has enjoyed a stunning 2023, which includes being named England Women player of the year, the FIFA Best Women's goalkeeper, finishing fifth in the Ballon d'Or and winning the inaugural Women’s Finalissima over Brazil. She saved a penalty in the World Cup final but was unable to prevent Spain from triumphing.
Earps, who kept a Super League record 14 clean sheets for Manchester United last season, has been installed as the clear frontrunner to pick up the award ahead of retired cricketer Stuart Broad, jockey Frankie Dettori, athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson, wheelchair tennis player Alfie Hewett and golfer Rory McIlroy.
Earps' England team-mate Beth Mead last year became the first women's footballer to win the award since its introduction in 1954.
Broad announced his retirement from cricket in the summer before helping England draw the Ashes series against Australia by taking a wicket with his final ball bowled and hitting a six with his last with the bat in an eye-catching send-off.
Johnson-Thompson this year overcame injury to win her second heptathlon World Championship title in Budapest, having in 2021 been ruled out of the Tokyo Olympics with an injury which saw her future in the sport under question.
Dettori bid farewell to British racing with a stellar year. He won the 2000 Guineas on Chaldean, the Oaks on Soul Sister, the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Courage Mon Ami, and the Coronation Cup at Epsom on Emily Upjohn. His final Ascot card saw him come from last to win the Champion Stakes on King Of Steel.
Hewett won seven singles tennis tournaments this year, including the Australian and US Opens, and reached the finals of both the French Open and Wimbledon.
Alongside Gordon Reid in doubles, he won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles. He finishes 2023 as world no1.
McIroy was Europe's top points-scorer at a stunning Ryder Cup victory, finished in the top 10 of 18 PGA Tour events, and won the Scottish Open. Spent spent part of the year ranked as world no1 and finished 2023 as world no2.
The winner of the public vote will be announced during the live show on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.
