THE 12 WHO CAN CLAIM THE PRIZE
JESSICA ENNIS-HILL (Athletics)
Age: 29 Odds: Evens The Sheffield athlete completed a remarkable comeback by winning heptathlon gold at the World Championships in August. She had given birth to Reggie just 13 months earlier.
ANDY MURRAY (Tennis)
Age: 28 Odds: 13/8 Murray began with a loss in the Australian open final to Novak Djokovic but registered a 500th career win in March. He will finish 2015 as world No 2 and led Britain to Davis Cup victory.
TYSON FURY (Boxing)
Age: 27 Odds: 11/2 Fury caused one of the greatest upsets in heavyweight history when he defeated world champion Wladimir Klitschko by unanimous points decision. The Ukrainian had not lost since 2004.
LEWIS HAMILTON (Formula 1)
Age: 30 Odds: 10/1 Hamilton claimed pole in 11 of the first 12 races and won seven. He sealed his third World Championship at the US Grand Prix in october to equal Sir Jackie Stewart’s British record. CHRIS FROOME (Cycling)
Age: 30 Odds: 33/1 After winning the Tour de France in 2013 and crashing out in 2014, Froome began his 2015 Tour preparation with victory at the Criterium du Dauphine in June. He then defied critics to become the first Brit to win the Tour twice.
MO FARAH (Athletics)
Age: 32 Odds: 40/1 Despite controversy around coach Alberto Salazar, Farah had a stellar year. He won 5,000m and 10,000m gold at the World Championships, making him the first man to complete a distance ‘triple-double’ — winning both at two World Championships and the olympics.
KEVIN SINFIELD (Rugby League)
Age: 35 Odds: 40/1 In his last season as Leeds Rhinos captain before switching to rugby union, Sinfield led his side to an historic treble, winning the Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and Super League for the first time in their history.
ADAM PEATY (Swimming)
Age: 20 Odds: 66/1 Peaty broke world records in the 50m and 100m breaststroke and became the first Brit to win three golds at a World Championships in the 50m and 100m breaststroke and the 4x100m mixed medley relay. GREG RUTHERFORD (Athletics)
Age: 29 Odds: 80/1 Rutherford set an indoor personal best before winning Diamond League events in Birmingham and oslo. He became only the fifth Brit to hold olympic, World, European and Commonwealth titles simultaneously before clinching the Diamond Race title.
LIZZIE ARMITSTEAD (Cycling)
Age: 26 Odds: 100/1 Armitstead won three Road World Cup races as she took the overall title for the second year running. She won silver in the women’s time trial at the Road Cycling World Championships before winning gold in the road race.
LUCY BRONZE (Football)
Age: 24 Odds: 100/1 one of the stars of the Lionesses’ run to the World Cup semi-finals, Bronze also scored one of the goals of the tournament in Canada. She was named in the All-Star team as England finished third.
MAX WHITLOCK (Gymnastics)
Age: 22 Odds: 150/1 After recovering from glandular fever, Whitlock, one of Sportsmail’s Road to Rio athletes, won World Championships silver in the Floor and Team events and gold in the Pommel Horse. He is the first British gymnast to win world gold.