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BBC Sports Personality of the Year Odds: Johnson-Thompson storms into contention

A dramatic weekend of action for British sports fans has shaken up the betting for this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Beth Mead became the first female footballer to win the award last year, but England Women's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final has dampened the hopes of another Lioness triumphing at SPOTY in December.

However, Katarina Johnson-Thompson took gold in the heptathlon at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest and she is 5/1 to claim the BBC award - although England cricketer Stuart Broad remains at the head of the market at 6/4.

WhatBBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023
WhereSalford, England
WhenWednesday 20th December 2023
How to watchBBC One
OddsStuart Broad 6/4, Frankie Dettori 4/1, Katarina Johnson-Thompson 5/1, Ben Stokes 9/1, Keely Hodgkinson 16/1 

Heptathlon heroics boost Johnson-Thompson's SPOTY chances

Athletics is the most successful sport in the history of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, providing 18 winners, and Katarina Johnson-Thompson is 5/1 to add her name to the list this year.

The last athlete to win SPOTY was Mo Farah in 2017, but heptathlete Johnson-Thompson looks a serious contender after her thrilling victory at the World Championships on Sunday.

The 30-year-old was involved in a battle royale with American rival Anna Hall, but she recorded a personal best in the final 800m event to finish 20 points ahead of Hall.

Johnson-Thompson had won her first world title in Doha in 2019 before her bid for Olympic gold in Tokyo was derailed by a calf injury and she has also suffered a career-threatening Achilles problem.

The character she demonstrated to recover from those setbacks and claim a second world title should make her a popular choice with SPOTY voters.

Sprinter Zharnel Hughes also made up for his Olympic disappointment at the worlds on Sunday, picking up a bronze medal in the men's 100m.

Hughes, who false-started in the Olympic final in Tokyo, finished third behind the USA's Noah Lyles. With his favoured event the 200m still to come at the World Championships, he is an interesting SPOTY contender at 33/1, while 800m runner Keely Hodgkinson is 16/1.  

Goalkeeper Earps rated most likely Lioness

England Women forward Mead won SPOTY last year after her starring role in the Lionesses' European Championship victory.

Injury ruled the Arsenal ace out of this year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and her England teammates fell just short of glory, losing 1-0 to Spain in a tense final on Sunday.

The Lionesses enjoyed a superb campaign and several players are still prominent in the SPOTY betting with goalkeeper Mary Earps rated a 20/1 chance.

The Manchester United keeper won the Golden Glove award at the tournament and produced a memorable moment for England fans by saving a second-half penalty from Spain's Jenni Hermoso.

England captain Millie Bright is 33/1 to win the BBC award in Salford just before Christmas while Lauren Hemp, who was outstanding in the 3-1 semi-final victory over co-hosts Australia, is 50/1.

Stokes could upstage retiring stars with more World Cup glory

Two retiring superstars head the SPOTY betting with England cricketer Broad 6/4 and jockey Frankie Dettori 4/1.

Broad announced his retirement during July's final Ashes Test at The Oval and signed off in style, hitting the final ball he faced for six before taking the last two wickets to seal England's victory over Australia.

The 52-year-old Dettori may be into the final furlong of his glittering career but he has maintained his high standards in 2023, winning the 2,000 Guineas on Chaldean and the Oaks on Soul Sister.

He should have an opportunity to enhance his SPOTY credentials with more big-race success on November trips to the Breeders' Cup in the USA and the Melbourne Cup in Australia.

While Broad and Dettori bid farewell to the stage in 2023, Ben Stokes is coming out of ODI retirement to play for England in the 50-over World Cup in India this autumn.

Stokes was named Sports Personality of the Year in 2019 after his key role in England's World Cup triumph at Lord's and a stunning matchwinning century in the Ashes Test at Headingley.

Now England's Test captain, he smashed an extraordinary 155 in a losing cause against Australia at Lord's and his side fought back from 2-0 down to draw this summer's Ashes series 2-2.

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