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The shortlist of finalists has been confirmed for the 2021 Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards in association with Sky Sports.
There are six leading contenders for the prestigious Sportswoman of the Year accolade.
The prestigious awards, now in their 34th year, have led the way in recognising and celebrating the outstanding contribution made to sport by women at all levels, from elite to grassroots.
The public is able to vote for their winners via www.sportswomenoftheyear.co.uk
Voting is open until 11:59pm Wednesday 17th November
- The Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year 2021
The ultimate accolade for your favourite sportswoman of this year
Emily Campbell, weightlifting
Kate French, modern pentathlon
Laura Kenny, cycling
Lauren Price, boxing
Emma Raducanu, tennis
Sarah Storey, cycling
- Young Sportswoman of the Year
Nominees must have been 21 years old or younger on January 1, 2021
Zoe Backstedt, cycling
Sky Brown, skateboarding
Alice Capsey, cricket
Keely Hodgkinson, athletics
Bethany Shriever, BMX
Maisie Summers-Newton, swimming
- Disability Sportswoman of the Year
The outstanding performer in a disability sport
Hannah Cockroft, athletics
Kadeena Cox, cycling and athletics
Bethany Firth, swimming
Phoebe Paterson Pine, archery
GB para-canoeists Emma Wiggs, Charlotte Henshaw, and Laura Sugar
- Sky Sports Team of the Year
Celebrating the achievements of Britain’s successful collective efforts
Chelsea Women FC
England Netball
Europe's Solheim Cup team
Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre
Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald
Oval Invincibles
- Changemaker Award
Celebrating those who have inspired others and used their platforms to create change
Sue Anstiss
Alice Dearing
Dr Emma Ross
Anita White
- Grassroots Award
For individuals who have actively engaged with different groups of people within their community through sport
Salma Bi, cricket
Betty Codona, basketball
Clova Court, athletics
Hasina Rahman, martial arts
- The Helen Rollason Award for inspiration
Recognising inspirational endeavour in honour of the late sports presenter Helen Rollason
The winner of this award will be revealed at the live streamed awards ceremony on Thursday 25th November.
Rebecca Myers, Sunday Times journalist and lead reporter for the Sportswomen of the Year awards, said:“This has been a groundbreaking year for women's sport, from athletes making history and breaking new records at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, to the landmark success of the Hundred and the new Women's Super League broadcast deal. Unsurprisingly, the nominations for this year's SWOTY awards were some of the strongest we've ever seen and we are delighted to announce such stellar shortlists for 2021.”
Jonathan Licht, MD of Sky Sports said: “It is more important than ever post-pandemic to celebrate the progress and phenomenal achievements in women’s sport. We have seen some astonishing moments throughout the year, not just in women’s sport but the contribution of these nominees to sport in general, from the success of The Hundred to the extraordinary story of Emma Raducanu that moved the nation. Sky Sports is pleased to play a part in the celebration of these incredible women.”
From the long-list of nominations from the public a panel of experts selected the shortlist. This year’s judging panel includes household names Gabby Logan (BBC sports presenter), Chemmy Alcott (former World Cup alpine ski racer), Ama Agbeze (former England netball captain and Commonwealth Games gold medallist), Rebecca Adlington OBE (World and Olympic champion swimmer), Helen Falkus (Sky Director of Multi-Sports), Kate Richardson-Walsh OBE (former England and GB hockey captain and Olympic gold medallist), Natalie Sawyer (co-host of talkSPORT Weekend Sports Breakfast show), Chrissie Wellington OBE (four-time Ironman triathlon world champion), Tanni Grey-Thompson OBE (paralympc and world champion wheelchair racer), Ellie Simmonds OBE (paralympic and world champion swimmer), Laura Woods (talkSPORT and Sky sports presenter), Helen Glover MBE (Olympic and world champion rower)
The public is able to vote for their winners until Wednesday 17th November. The winners will be revealed at a live streamed awards ceremony on Thursday 25th November.
Previous winners of the main award, the coveted Sportswoman of the Year accolade, include Dina Asher-Smith, Elise Christie, Sally Gunnell, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Denise Lewis, Dame Kelly Holmes, Zara Phillips, Victoria Pendleton and Christine Ohuruogu. Hollie Doyle, the British jockey who competes in flat racing was crowned the 2021 Sportswoman of the Year last November
The Sportswomen of the Year Awards are among the most prestigious and influential in the British sporting calendar and are supported by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, UK Sport, Sport England and Women in Sport.
Follow the latest news and get involved by following #SWOTY in the lead up to the Awards.
