Sports Personality of the Year 2020: Fury on shortlist along with Hamilton, O’Sullivan, Henderson, Broad & jockey Doyle
LEWIS HAMILTON and Tyson Fury have been named as contenders for the BBC’s Sports Personality Of The Year.
Formula One ace, Hamilton, who has just been diagnosed with coronavirus, equalled Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world championships this year.
He has also used his platform to support the Black Lives Matter movement, calling for greater equality in sport and life in general.
The 35-year-old is a previous winner, bagging the trophy in 2014.
Heavyweight superstar Fury, 32, capped his remarkable comeback from depression and drugs by claiming the WBC title belt after knocking out Deontay Wilder in February.
Cricketer Stuart Broad was the second person to be named in the running for the prestigious award.
He became only the second Englishman and seventh bowler ever to scalp 500 Test wickets.
He is seventh in the list of all-time Test wicket takers.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is also a nominee.
He guided the Reds to the Premier League title for the first time for more than 30 years.
Inspirational jockey Hollie Doyle has been rewarded for a stunning year.
The 24-year-old became the first female jockey to ride a winner on Champions Day at Ascot and broke a record after winning five races at Windsor.
The fifth name to land was snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan who earned his first nomination.
O’Sullivan, 44, became a world champion for a sixth time this year after winning the title for the first time since 2013.
But it is Hamilton who remains firm favourite for the award.
And his record-breaking F1 success is set to see him be knighted by the Queen.
Hamilton revealed he would jump at the chance to become Sir Lewis.
He said: “I would never ever turn down the Royal family. I grew up in the UK and am a massive fan of them.
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“It is very surreal, when you grew up watching the news like everyone else, hearing your name in the House of Lords or the House of Commons or in Parliament.
“It is very very surreal to hear that with all the things going on in the world that they have a moment and acknowledge the work that I have done.
“As far as I am aware, there is a lot of talk and I have not really thought a lot about it, but it would be an incredible honour.
“There is no greater honour than your country recognising you and honouring you with such an award.”
Despite already wrapping up this years’s title, Hamilton is refusing to take his foot off the gas, and won the Bahrain GP at the weekend.
But he will MISS this weekend’s Sakhir race having returned a positive test for covid-19.