Sports Personality of the Year 2021 odds and predictions

Free Sports Personality of the Year betting tips and analysis ahead of Sunday's ceremony at MediaCityUK, Manchester.

Where to watch

BBC1, 6.45pm Sunday

Best bet

Raheem Sterling to finish in top three
1pt 7-1 general

Preview

The night Emma Raducanu strolled to victory at the US Open all bets were off in the battle for the 2021 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

It has been a year stacked full of sporting highs, with Team GB's success in Tokyo, England reaching a major football final and the tightest F1 battle in living memory, yet the Beeb's annual backslap was only ever going to be a one-horse race as soon as the Kent teenager triumphed at Flushing Meadow.

Punters' attention has long since turned to the market without Raducanu, which is fascinating with Tom Daley pretty much being handed second place courtesy of his 4-9 quote.

He'd certainly be the housewives' choice – but is it housewives who vote?

There's been a campaign to give Tyson Fury a leg-up on the grounds that he doesn't want to be in the frame at all. But he was every bit as sour last year and still managed to finish last of the six, so if his grumpy antics haven't worked once, should they really work again?

Swimmers and Paralympians have no record of note in this so Daley may not have much to beat, apart perhaps from Raheem Sterling and the hugely powerful football lobby.

Sterling might just be the value. He starred in the summer Euros (on terrestrial TV, of course) and has become a potent voice off the pitch as well, protesting against the scourge of racism. That's two boxes ticked.

Footballers also have an impressive strike-rate – only athletes have been placed more often.

Even Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson finished second last year, admittedly in a moderate year, and if the Manchester City faithful can be bothered to get involved, Sterling could have a decent edge over four of his five rivals.

Emma Raducanu 1-16

The teenager who started the year ranked 343th, finished it at 19th and melted a nation's hearts.

Emma Raducanu, then 18 and fresh from completing her A-Levels, lit up Wimbledon with her beaming smile and thumping ground strokes, reaching round four on her Grand Slam debut before being forced to retire.

That though was merely a sign of things to come.

Three months later the Kent teenager went to the US Open – her second major – and didn't just win it, but won it in remarkable style, without even dropping a set or being taken to a tiebreak, and duly nailing down favouritism for this gong.

Tom Daley 14-1

Tom Daley has been a household name for more than a decade but it was only this year when he was finally able to realise his sporting dream.

Thirteen years after making his Olympic debut as a baby-faced schoolboy in Beijing, Daley, at his fourth and possibly final Games, finally became an Olympic diving champion, alongside Matty Lee in the synchronised 10m platform event.

The 27-year-old went on to claim a second medal in Tokyo – winning bronze in the men's 10m platform – to become the first British diver to win four Olympic medals.

Tyson Fury (33-1)

World heavyweight champ Tyson Fury has tried everything not to get noticed by the BBC, but that didn't stop them putting him on their shortlist.

"I won't be making another speech for them," said Fury after learning of his nomination, the type of snub which might irk the corporation but will doubtless play well in public.

He found his way into the sextet despite having one fight in 2021 - a highly entertaining triumph over Deontay Wilder in Vegas in October.

Fury finished last of six last year - having asked to be removed from the list - and fourth in 2015 despite calls for him to be axed from the shortlist for making homophobic comments.

Adam Peaty 100-1

Peaty wrote his name into the history books as he powered to 100m breaststroke gold in Tokyo to become the first British swimmer to defend an Olympic title.

It was Team GB's first gold of the Games and the Staffordshire swimmer, who has broken 14 world records in an event he continues to completely dominate, remains the only man to have dipped under 57 seconds for the distance.

He claimed a second gold in Japan in the anarchic 4x100m mixed medley and is a serial contender, although with form figures of 10-11-11-5 no hint he'll become swimming's first winner since 1962.

Sarah Storey 150-1

Dame Sarah truly is the Queen of the Paralympics with figures that are just mind-blowing.

A twin-event star – first swimming, then cycling – she's a 29-time world champion, 21-time European champion, eight-time Paralympian and holder of 75 world records.

This summer in Tokyo she added three more golds to her haul making a grand total of 17 – she is Britain's most decorated Paralympian. Her successes came 29 years after she made her Paralympic debut as a swimmer in Barcelona.

The feats are astonishing, but Spoty aficionados will have clocked that the last time she was nominated – in 2016 – she hoovered up just 0.5 per cent of the vote.

Raheem Sterling 150-1

One of England's stars of the European Championship with three goals helping the Three Lions get to the final, the striker earned him a place in the team of the tournament and also scored goals helping Manchester City to win the Premier League title back from Liverpool.

Sterling has additionally won plenty of admirers for using his profile and platform to educate against racism and inequality in sport.

Punters will be aware that only athletes have been placed more times than footballers in the 66-year history of this competition.

Heas been shortlisted before, finishing fourth of six in 2019, and if Jordan Henderson can make the frame, Sterling has to be in with a shout.

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