The alternative SPOTY shortlist – and this time there is a triathlete on it

It’s the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards on Tuesday this week, with the winner to be decided by a public vote from a shortlist of six.

There was no triathlon representation among those nominations despite the fact that two British athletes became world champions for the first time in 2023 – Beth Potter in the World Triathlon Championship Series, while Lucy Charles-Barclay was crowned IRONMAN World Champion.

Both had compelling ‘back stories’ too – Potter has switched sports having represented Team GB over 10,000 metres on the track while LCB had been second on her previous four attempts at the IMWC in Kona.

Deserved recognition

The SPOTY list is headed by England Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps and cricketer Stuart Broad, with Frankie Dettori, Alfie Hewett, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Rory McIlroy the other contenders.

But as ever there was plenty of debate about the merits of others and the Independent has now produced an alternative list of six – and this time there is a triathlete on it.

That’s Charles-Barclay, with her journey to IRONMAN World Champion referenced as follows: “It had been a long time coming, she fractured a hip last year and broke a bone in her foot in May, but fought back, and claimed the title having been runner-up in Kona in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022.”

Joining her is men’s 1,500m world champ Josh Kerr, snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan, Ashes cricket hero Nat Sciver-Brunt, football star Jude Bellingham and Kevin Sinfield, the former rugby league great who has achieved such incredible fundraising feats through his ultramarathon running.

All would have been very worthy nominees for the BBC award.