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And the nominees are:
Ben Ainslie: Ainslie was widely credited with turning around Team USA's fortunes in the America's Cup having been brought in as tactician with the hosts coming from behind to win the last eight races and pull off a remarkable come-from-behind victory.
Ian Bell: The Warwickshire batsman contributed significantly to a summer of Ashes success with three centuries and his series-leading 562 runs - scored at an average of 62.44 - was 144 better than his nearest rival.
Hannah Cockcroft: Having been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours, Cockcroft retained both her T34 100 metres and T34 200 metres titles at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon and won the T33/T34 100 metres race at the Anniversary Games at the Olympic Stadium with a stadium record time of 17.80 seconds.
Mo Farah: Farah continued where he left off in 2012 by winning both 5,000m and 10,000m world titles in Moscow, as well as breaking Steve Cram's 28-year-old British 1,500m record in Monaco in July.
Chris Froome: May lack the broader public profile afforded his Great Britain team-mate Sir Bradley Wiggins but proved equally adept on two wheels by succeeding Wiggins as winner of the Tour de France.
Leigh Halfpenny: Halfpenny played in all three Lions tests in Australia in the summer and was named as player of the series, having already been voted Six Nations player of the year as Wales retained their title.
AP McCoy: The 2010 winner enjoyed another dominant year in the saddle, culminating in sealing his 4,000th career winner when his mount Mountain Tunes won at Towcester in early November.
Andy Murray: Ended Great Britain's 77-year wait for a men's singles Wimbledon title when he beat Novak Djokovic in straight sets on Centre Court, having also previously lost in the Australian Open final to Djokovic.
Christine Ohuruogu: Ohuruogu bounced back from the disappointment of her silver medal in London by winning her second 400m world title in Moscow, pipping Amantle Montsho by the narrowest of margins.
Justin Rose: Finally made good on his early career promise by winning the US Open at Merion, overhauling five-time major winner Phil Mickelson to become the first English winner of the event in 43 years.
Clearly, I'm biased, but my 1-2-3 would be Halfpenny, Murray & Farah. |
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