The shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award has been officially announced, featuring prominent athletes including Rory McIlroy and Lando Norris. McIlroy, a seasoned golfer from Northern Ireland, is a strong contender after achieving a career Grand Slam with a dramatic victory at the Masters earlier this year. Despite being nominated multiple times, he has yet to secure this prestigious award.
Norris, who recently claimed his first Formula 1 world championship, is also on the shortlist for the first time. The young driver clinched his title by finishing third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking a significant milestone in his racing career. The last Formula 1 driver to win the Sports Personality award was Lewis Hamilton in 2020.
Celebrating Outstanding Achievements in Sport
Joining McIlroy and Norris are two stars from the England women’s football team, known as the Lionesses, who triumphed in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022. Hannah Hampton, the first-choice goalkeeper who replaced Mary Earps, is nominated alongside her teammate Chloe Kelly.
Also featured is Ellie Kildunne, a key player in the England women’s rugby team, who contributed significantly to their World Cup victory on home soil. The shortlist is rounded out by darts player Luke Littler, who narrowly missed out on the award last year, losing to athletics star Keely Hodgkinson. Littler is set to pursue back-to-back titles at the World Darts Championship, beginning his campaign against Darius Labanauskas on Thursday night.
Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, commented on the impressive athletic achievements of the nominees, stating, “This has been a breathtaking year for sport, driven by athletes whose performances belong in the history books. Each one has delivered moments of pure brilliance that have defined 2025.”
Voting and Ceremony Details
The public will have the opportunity to vote for their preferred winner during the live broadcast of the Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, scheduled for December 18, 2025, in Salford. The event will be aired on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 19:00 to 21:00. In a new format, the nominees will be narrowed down to a top three before the announcement of the overall winner.
Additionally, the public vote for the World Sport Star category is now open, with nominees revealed earlier in the week. Voting for this category will close at midday on December 14. Among the contenders are footballers Mohamed Salah and Mariona Caldentey, boxer Terence Crawford, pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, athletics star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and baseball player Shohei Ohtani.
As anticipation builds for the ceremony, fans eagerly await the chance to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these extraordinary athletes.
