BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2008

Only six days to go until the public decide the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and all of a sudden, everything has changed. Lewis Hamilton, for ages the full-on 1/2 favourite to be crowned after securing the Formula 1 Driver’s World Championship in Brazil last month has drifted out to 6/4. Rebecca Adlington, twice a gold medallist in the 2008 Beijing Olympics has elbowed him out of the way to become 5/6 favourite with online bookies and making BBC Sports Personality of the Year betting fans scratch their heads in alarm at this surprising turnaround.

Formula 1 is second only to Athletics in the history of the award with drivers having won six medals since the contest began in 1954 while swimmers have won only twice, the last time being in 1962 when Anita Lonsbrough walked away with the trophy. There is no doubt that, despite all the controversies that have surrounded Formula 1 racing in recent years, it is still a sport which carries the kind of romanticism to capture the imagination of the public.

But romance of that kind can sometimes come up against an invincible rival in the unexpected form of the ordinary girl or boy who makes good. The British people are susceptible to the understated radiance that comes from this kind of winner and Rebecca Adlington perfectly personifies this while warming the heart in a way that is beyond our top sporting professionals. Long may it be so