BBC Announces Young Sports Personality of the Year
A shortlist of three contenders has been announced for the 2013 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award; Athlete Dina Asher-Smith, shooter Amber Hill and golfer Charley Hull are in contention for the prize.
They made the final cut, revealed on the Blue Peter television show, from a longer list of 10 candidates. The winner, chosen by an expert panel, will be named during the 60th edition of the Sports Personality show, which will be broadcast live from Leeds on Sunday.
Footballer Wayne Rooney, tennis star Andy Murray and diver Tom Daley are among previous winners on the roll of honour. Last year’s winner was swimmer Josef Craig after he became Britain’s youngest gold medallist at the 2012 Paralympics. Aged 15, he won the S7 400m freestyle final in a new world record.
At 17, Asher-Smith became the second youngest female athlete in history to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships as Great Britain’s women secured bronze in the 4x100m relay.
Aged just 15, Hill became the youngest winner of a senior World Cup in skeet shooting and finished the season ranked number one senior in Great Britain and number five in the world.
Hull, 17, joined the Ladies European Tour after turning professional this year and became the youngest golfer to appear for either Europe or the USA in the Solheim Cup.
The award is given to the outstanding young sportsperson of the year, who was aged 17 or under on 1 January 2013. The shortlist was created through a combination of nominations made directly to the BBC, and names of young sports people suggested to the Youth Sport Trust by governing bodies.
Footballer Adnan Januzaj, weightlifter Rebekah Tiler and canoeist Kimberley Woods were among those on the 10-strong contender list on which Athletes Dina Asher-Smith, Jessica Judd and Isaac Towers also featured, alongside swimmers James Guy and Amy Marren.
This year’s Sports Personality of the Year awards night will take place on Sunday, 15 December and will be presented by Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan in front of an expected 12,000 crowd at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.
In addition to the Young Sports Personality prize, there will be awards for: Sports Personality of the Year; Team of the Year; Coach of the Year; Overseas Sports Personality.