Skelton nominated for SPOTY Award

Equestrian Olympic stars Nick Skelton and Sophie Christiansen have been nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY). The nominations were revealed yesterday (28 November) on The One Show. Nick and Sophie are two of a shortlist of 16 stars up for the award, selected by an expert panel of sports specialists.

The list also includes footballers Jamie Vardy, Gareth Bale, hockey player Kate Richardson-Walsh, golfer Danny Willet, boxer Nicola Adams and tennis player Andy Murray.

The 16 will compete for the public vote on 18 December.

“I’m so happy to be nominated for SPOTY — it’s such an honour to be recognised in this way among such great sportsmen and women,” Nick says. Voting will be available by phone or online and the number to call for each contestant with be revealed during the show.

Eight-time Paralympic gold medallist Sophie was awarded an MBE in the 2009 New Year Honours list for services to disabled sport and an OBE in the 2012 New Year Honours list.