It’s Just a Personality Contest
In 2007, it was so obvious that Lewis Hamilton was going to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. No one had seen such a stunning start to a sporting career, and he had reinvigorated plenty of Briton’s interest in motor racing.
Then Joe Calzaghe started punching his way into the public’s hearts, and everyone forgot about their F1 hero. He finished up second, but who ever remembers second place in this kind of competition?
The question is, can Hamilton make it this year? He’s well on his way to a maiden championship title, with only one real rival for it. He’s been winning all over the place, featured in all the newspapers, handing out some awards, and generally increasing his popularity.
Granted Lewis also left the country and bemoaned being famous, but that doesn’t seem to have damaged his status too much.
The problem with this year is a small little thing called the Olympics. Our athletes won our highest medal tally for over 100 years, and we brought home plenty of lovely gold.
With the Games fresh in our minds, and lingering due to our hosting duties in 2012, it’s highly likely that Mr Hamilton will be usurped again. I’m not a betting expert, and the bracketed odds are bound to change, but the BBC list swimming champ Rebecca Adlington (2-1), cyclist Chris Hoy (5-2) and sailor Ben Ainslie (20-1) amongst those in with a chance. Hamilton (5-2) is right up there with the best of them.
