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Olympic gold medallists dominate BBC Sports Personality shortlist
02.12.08
Seven of Team GB's Olympic gold medallists have been included on the shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2008 award.
Chris Hoy, who took three golds in Beijing, is one of four members of the dominant cycling team to make the 10-strong list. He is joined by double gold medallist Bradley Wiggins, Nicole Cooke and Rebecca Romero.
Swimmer Rebecca Adlington is another Olympian to make the cut after she tasted glory in the 400m and 800m freestyle, with sailing's Ben Ainslie and athletics star Christine Ohuruogu the other Games heroes in line for the prestigious award.
Unbeaten boxer Joe Calzaghe has the chance to retain the title he won last year after high-profile defeats of Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr in 2008, with Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and US Open finalist Andy Murray completing the shortlist.
There are no Paralympians on the list despite the 102 medals, including 42 golds, picked up in Beijing.
The winner will be decided by a phone vote held during the Sports Personality of the Year show at Liverpool's Echo Arena on December 14.
Hamilton is the odds-on favourite with William Hill to take the award, at 1/2, after his sensational title triumph which was clinched at the final corner of the season's last race in Brazil a month ago.
Adlington (11/4) and Hoy (9/2) are second and third in the early betting stakes, with Cooke and Romero (both 100/1) the outsiders.
Reader views (1)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Much as I appreciate Lewis Hamilton's achievement, he doesn't rely just on himself for his winning, he has the best car on the circuit. Even a wonderful cyclist like Chris Hoy also has a machine to help him to victory. Rebecca Adlington, however, is a true sports person. It is just she, and she alone, who vies against other swimmers. Therefore, she deserves to win the Sports Personality title.
- Stephanie Adcock, Leeds, UK
