The shortlist (in alphabetical order) is: Mark Cavendish (cycling), Darren Clarke (golf), Alastair Cook (cricket), Luke Donald (golf), Mo Farah (athletics), Dai Greene (athletics), Amir Khan (boxing), Rory McIlroy (golf), Andy Murray (tennis), Andrew Strauss (cricket).
The nominations list is made up by a panel of sports editors and journalists. Swimmer Rebecca Adlington was just outside the list with 6 votes (1 behind Amir Khan) according to BBC News.
Adlington, Keri-Anne Payne and Chrissie Wellington all won gold medals in their sports this year. British swimmer Payne said: "Are they voting for the people who are most popular? Or who has achieved the most in their sport this year? The line is fuzzy."(Telegraph). Nominee Dai Greene, the World, European and Commonwealth 400m champion, said he thought there should have been a woman on the shortlist.
The last women to recieve the award were Zara Phillips in 2006, Kelly Holmes in 2004 and Paula Radliffe in 2002. There was some discruntlement at the last 2 years winners, journalist AP McCoy (2010) and Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs (2009).
Gymnast Beth Tweddle has twice been nominated but never been that high on the list due mainly to the lack of global popularity for gymnastics.
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