In the running
Sportswoman: Lydia Ko (golf), Lisa Carrington (kayak), Valerie Adams (shot put), Luuka Jones (whitewater canoeing). Sports Team: Peter Burling/Blair Tuke (sailing), Hamish Bond/Eric Murray (rowing), Jo Aleh/Polly Powrie (sailing), Sam Webster/ Ethan Mitchell/Eddie Dawkins (cycling sprint team). Disabled: Sophie Pascoe (swimming), Anna Grimaldi (athletics), Mary Fisher (swimming), Liam Malone (athletics). pions it is likely to have diluted his chances.
The Rio bronzes of Nick Willis and Tom Walsh, outstanding achievements, won’t cut the mustard.
Due respect to Olympic silver medallists Adams and whitewater paddler Luuka Jones, the women’s winner will be Ko, the world No 1 who bagged four titles on the LPGA Tour and a silver at Rio, or sprint kayaker Carrington.
She became the first New Zealand Olympian to win two medals at one games, taking her second K1 200m gold and the bronze in the classic 500m distance.
Burling and Tuke might be favoured to shade the remarkable Bond and Murray, who remain unbeaten for eight years.
The sailors lost just one regatta, finishing second shortly before the Olympics began.
Look out for a surprise in the coach category, with pole vault guru Jeremy McColl, who guided Eliza McCartney to her brilliant bronze in Rio, a big chance.
Sophie Pascoe, winner of four of the five Disabled Sportsperson awards, looks a shoe-in for a fifth in six years.
She won three gold medals and two silver at the Paralympics, and also broke the world record in the 100m butterfly at the national championships last April.