An early look at the leading contenders for the 2025 Sports Personality of the Year award ahead of December’s ceremony, but which sports stars have thrown their hat in the ring in the early stages of the calendar year?
Rory McIlroy is the early betting favourite to win 2025 Sports Personality of the Year after his Masters triumph. McIlroy became only the sixth golfer to complete a career Grand Slam, giving him a clear advantage over the field.
There are no Olympics to dominate the Sports Personality of the Year nominations, but the Women’s 2025 Euros are bound to be a factor if England get anywhere near replicating their glory from Wembley a few years ago.
Wimbledon, as ever, is an opportunity for a tennis player to throw their name into the mix, while Lando Norris is the current favourite to win the Formula One Drivers’ Championship in the rapid McLaren.
McIlroy’s Clear Lead
There’s no question McIlroy has had the best year of any British sportsperson to date. The sporting year is only a few holes into the second round, though, giving others plenty of time to catch up.
Of course, McIlroy could yet add to his crowning moment at Augusta National. Having ended his decade-long major drought, he enters the PGA Championship, US Open, and British Open among the favourites.
Relieved of the pressure which so often crippled his performances at the biggest events, we might see the best of the Northern Irishman in the coming months.
Littler’s Candidacy
Winner of the World Championship and sitting pretty atop the Premier League Darts ladder, Luke Littler continues to attract new fans to darts.
The challenge for the teenager is recency bias when it comes to voting, as his world title will have been almost 12 months ago when sports fans are making their SPOTY decisions later this year.
Then again, Littler can also match McIlroy’s Grand Slam achievement by claiming the Triple Crown this summer. There is a realistic chance he holds all three Triple Crown at once – bookies will inevitably have him as the pre-tournament favourite for the World Matchplay in Blackpool.
Norris Has a Shot
Norris is trailing teammate Oscar Piastri in the Drivers’ Championship after five races. It’s only a small deficit at this stage, however, and there are plenty of races left on the schedule for Norris to become the first non-Hamilton Brit to win the title since Jenson Button.
Despite Norris’ claims to the contrary, McLaren have comfortably the fastest car on the grid. Max Verstappen is unlikely to compete for the title unless Red Bull bring significant upgrades, and the same goes for Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Lewis Hamilton.
Still, even if Norris wins the title, does that outdo McIlroy and Littler’s achievements? It’s hard to see him winning the award this time around.
Other Candidates
The Lionesses are clearly in with a shot. Success for any national side in a team sport stands them in good stead when it comes to SPOTY voting, as we saw with England Women’s Euros win and the England men winning the Cricket World Cup.
Former winner Beth Mead, Keira Walsh, and Ella Toone are all possible winners if the Lionesses go all the way. The widely popular Mary Earps is a candidate, too, even after winning Sports Personality of the Year in 2023.
Fresh off his first tour title and his two best Grand Slam efforts, Jack Draper is an intriguing candidate at 20/1. Men’s tennis is more open than it has been in two decades, perhaps giving Draper a chance to follow in Andy Murray’s footsteps and lift the Wimbledon trophy. Murray is the only athlete to win SPOTY on three occasions.
Two Ashes tests will be in the books when SPOTY takes place. It’s unlikely to be enough for a cricketer to top the voting, particularly with England’s struggles since the turn of the year.
Harry Brook, the new white-ball captain, might get some support if England excel in the shorter formats and he gets runs in the first two tests, but it’s almost impossible for him to match the accolades of McIlroy and Littler.
SPOTY Odds 2025
- Rory McIlroy – 8/13
- Luke Littler – 7/2
- Lando Norris – 5/1
- Jack Draper – 20/1
- Leah Williamson – 20/1
- Lewis Hamilton – 20/1
- Ellie Kildunne – 22/1
- George Russell – 22/1
- Jude Bellingham – 25/1
Previous SPOTY Winners
- 2024 – Keely Hodgkinson
- 2023 – Mary Earps
- 2022 – Beth Mead
- 2021 – Emma Raducanu
- 2020 – Lewis Hamilton
- 2019 – Ben Stokes
- 2018 – Geraint Thomas
- 2017 – Mo Farah
- 2016 – Andy Murray
- 2015 – Andy Murray
- 2014 – Lewis Hamilton
- 2013 – Andy Murray
- 2012 – Bradley Wiggins
- 2011 – Mark Cavendish
- 2010 – Tony McCoy
Sports with Most SPOTY Wins
- Athletics – 19
- Formula One – 8
- Football – 7
- Tennis – 7
- Cricket – 5
- Boxing – 5
- Cycling – 5
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at time of writing*
