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- Since Australia 2000, Olympians have won Sports Personality of year awards in each of the 5 Olympic years
- 4 of the top 6 in the SPOTY betting appeared and won Gold in Tokyo this year
- Olympic Swimmers have won the Young Sports Personality of the year award in 2008, 2012 & 2016
- Tom Daley Favourite to win SPOTY 2021 has already 3 x Young Spoty Awards to his name
You Can bet on Olympians in Olympic years
One thing that is not lost on bookmakers is that in an Olympic year, it is very likely that it is an Olympic athlete 'whose actions most capture the publics' imagination' who will be awarded the coveted annual prize.
Tokyo2020 may have been a year late and played out behind closed doors, but it has certainly captured the British public with some stunning and memorable performances.
The current favourite to win the award is none other than Tom Daley, who believe it or not, is still just 27 years old and despite having appeared at his 4th games, picked up his first Gold Medal in the 10m Syncro
If Daley or any other Olympian were to win this year, it would mean that Olympians have won the award in each of the six Olympic years since 2000
Sports Personality Awards in Olympic years since 2000
| Year |
|
Winner | Sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Tokyo | ?? | ?? |
| 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | Andy Murray | Tennis |
| 2012 | London | Bradley Wiggins | Cycling |
| 2008 | Beijing | Chris Hoy | Cycling |
| 2004 | Athens | Kelly Holmes | Athletics |
| 2000 | Sydney | Steve Redgrave | Rowing |
Olympians Dominate the Betting
Betting on who will win Sports Personality of the Year is very popular and betting sites provide odds on each contender.
Predictably, 4 of the top 6 stars appearing in the betting have won gold in Tokyo this summer, including Sarah Storey at the Paralympics
Sports Personality of the Year Betting Odds
| Nominee | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Daley | 11/8 | 42.02% |
| Emme Radacanu | 3/1 | 25% |
| Jason Kenny | 11/2 | 15.38% |
| Adam Peaty | 13/2 | 13.33% |
| Lewis Hamilton | 9/1 | 10% |
| Sarah Storey | 16/1 | 5.88% |
**Probability percentage figures include bookmakers overround - odds correct at 7/9/2021
Young Sports Personality goes the same way
It is no surprise that the Olympics should be the event that catches the public's imagination when they come around, and in the Young Sports Personality Award category the story is very much the same with consistent wins from young Olympians in 3 of the 4 years the award has been available in Olympic years
- 2016 Eleanor Robinson - Swimming
- 2012 Josef Craig - Swimming
- 2008 Eleanor Simmond - Swimming
4th Spoty Award for Daley?
Tom Daley is no newcomer to the BBC Sports Personality of the year having already bagged a record 3 awards in the 'Young' category.
He won his first in 2007 at just 13 years of age for his diving achievement which included becoming the youngest-ever National Men's Platform Champion
Tom Daley Young Sports Personality of the Year Awards
| Year | For |
|---|---|
| 2007 | achievements in diving which include becoming the youngest-ever National Men's Platform Champion
|
| 2009 | Britain's youngest world champion in any sport
|
| 2010 | For winning two gold medals in the 2010 Commonwealth Games
|
Having now added the elusive Olympic Gold Medal to his haul at the age of 27 Tom Daley is the clear favourite with betting sites to receive the full award in 2021.
