Shortlist of nominees includes women from the world of football, diving, athletics, MMA and curling

BT Sport has today announced the nominees for the tenth annual BT Sport Action Woman of the Year Award. In a historic year of achievement for women’s sport, the BT Sport Action Woman Award in association with the Independent, celebrates six of 2022’s outstanding performances.

2022 will be remembered as a year of victories on home soil. The Lionesses were crowned European Women’s Champions after an unforgettable final at Wembley, with Beth Mead winning The Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament. The summer then turned to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where Team GB excelled across the board: 18-year-old Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix secured double gold in diving, Hannah Cockroft OBE continued her record of winning gold at every major athletics championship in wheelchair racing and runner Eilish McColgan set a new Commonwealth record in the 10,000m.

Away from the Commonwealth Games, Eve Muirhead OBE led Team GB to gold in the curling at the 2022 Winter Olympics and MMA fighter Molly McCann triumphed at UFC London as the only British woman on the card.

Based on athletes’ individual achievements, a shortlist of nominees has been selected by a panel of judges which included BT Sport’s Clare Balding CBE, Dame Katherine Grainger DBE, Sue Anstiss MBE and Ugo Monye.

BT Sport presenter Clare Balding said: “This year has seen extraordinary achievement in sport, from the Women’s Euros to the Commonwealth Games. Being able to honour these exceptional athletes and their golden endeavors is a testament to their individual journeys. I am thrilled to work alongside BT Sport to spotlight our inspiring nominees who will hopefully ignite a new generation of sportswomen to pursue their dreams.”

Jamie Hindhaugh, head of BT Sport, said: “It has been another ground-breaking year for women in sport. We have seen historic and heroic wins across the sporting world, with Team GB and the Lionesses leading the way in team sport alongside our individual athletes, who are defying records in remarkable style. BT Sport is proud to celebrate our nominees and encourage everyone to show their support by voting for their sportswoman of 2022.”

To commemorate the shortlist, BT Sport has commissioned six female artists to create bespoke illustrations of the nominees. The artists were selected by BT Sport following an open-call on social media, which looked to find some of the most talented, up-and-coming designers, artists and illustrators.

BT Sport Action Woman of the Year nominees

Beth Mead – Football
Winner of the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament, Beth Mead is also nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or Féminin after a stellar performance as England’s star forward this summer.

Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix – Diving
18-year-old Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix has had a breakout year in diving, winning gold medals in the 10m Platform and Mixed 10m Synchronised Platform with Noah Williams, and a silver medal in the Women’s Synchronised 10m platform with Eden Cheng at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Hannah Cockroft OBE – Athletics
Hannah Cockroft OBE won gold in the T33/34 100m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, completing the set of gold medals at every major athletics championships. The 30-year-old was competing at the Commonwealth Games for the first time and set a new Games record time of 16.84.

Molly McCann – MMA
Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann gave an electrifying performance at the O2 at UFC London back in March. In a homecoming fight and with a contract renewal at stake, Molly set the octagon alight in a face-off with Brazilian, Luisa Carolina. The Liverpudlian unleashed a reverse spinning elbow to the temple, knocking her opponent out cold. As the only British female fighter on the card that evening, Molly flew the flag for all aspiring MMA fighters in the UK.

Eilish McColgan – Athletics
Eilish McColgan started off the year breaking British records in the 5K road race in Dubai and the European 10km record. With these achievements in mind, the Scottish runner claimed the first major title of her career at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Eilish took the gold medal in the 10,000 metres final in style, setting a new Games record, as well as a silver in the 5000 metres. This win signified Scotland’s 500th overall medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Eve Muirhead OBE – Curling
Eve Muirhead OBE skippered Team GB to gold at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, leading her team to a 10–3 win over Japan to clinch her first ever gold Olympic medal and securing Team GB’s only gold medal of the Games. The Scot also partnered with Olympic silver medallist Bobby Lammie to win the mixed doubles world championship in Geneva to make it a full set of curling gold medals.

With thanks to BT Sport via Pitch

Funnell fought off competition from a shortlist of eight women to win the public vote and received her award from Maro Itoje, at the ceremony hosted by Clare Balding broadcast live on BT Sport.

The Solheim Cup golf team walked away with the Team of the Year award after captain Catriona Matthew lead her team to victory against the Americans in September. Europe won the last three singles matches to seal a sensational 14½-13½ Solheim Cup win at Gleneagles.  Ama Agbeze, England netballer, whose team won the award last year, presented the award to round off a momentous year for the team and the sport.

Former British swimmer Mel Marshall received the Lifetime Achievement Award to recognise her commitment to coaching and her achievements in swimming.  After winning numerous medals, including six at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Marshall traded her swimming cap for a coaching hat and started working with a young swimmer by the name of Adam Peaty – and the pair became unstoppable, winning 16 European Golds, 8 World Championship Golds, 2 World Records and an Olympic title. Mel has also worked with many other swimmers and steered Team GB’s Men’s 4 x 100m medley relay team to gold.

This year, skateboarder Sky Brown has been named the Rising Star. At just 11 years old, Brown is already the world’s youngest professional skateboarder, and hopes to become Britain’s youngest summer Olympian, representing Team GB in Tokyo next year.

BT Sport presenter Clare Balding, said: “The BT Sport Action Woman Awards is one of the highlights of the year for celebrating the fantastic achievements of women in sport, and what a year it’s been. There are so many women leading the way in sport and it is great to come together to highlight the countless standout team and individual performances. I’ve seen the interest in women’s sport increase rapidly which is testimony to those involved who continue to put women’s sport at the forefront of the agenda, and it’s great to see that interest backed up by the number of people who have got involved and voted in this year’s awards. At BT Sport we’re proud to support and recognise so many amazing women in sport, and we’re looking forward to another standout year in 2020.”

This year has been another outstanding year for women’s sporting achievements across the board: including England Netball’s historical win over Australia that saw them bring home the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games; to the FA Women’s Super League launching a new full-time, fully professional structure; and Great Britain running to victory in the women’s 4x100m relay final in the European Championships in Berlin. A shortlist of top nominees based on each of the athletes sporting achievements in 2018 has been selected by a panel of judges which includes broadcaster Clare Balding OBE, Olympic hockey gold medalist Sam Quek MBE and Sports Editor of The Telegraph, Adam Sills.

BT Sport also recognises team and lifetime contributions to women’s sport and will present two awards that further celebrate women’s sport. Both ‘Team of the Year’ and ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ will be presented on the night

The winner of the BT Sport Action Woman of the Year Award will once again be decided by a public vote via the website.

BT Sport Action Woman of the Year nominees:

Dina Asher-Smith – Sprinter

A sensational year saw Dina win gold in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m at the European Championships and gold (4x100m) and bronze (200m) at the Commonwealth Games.  She ended the season as the joint fastest woman in the world in the 100m and the fastest woman in the world in the 200m.

Lizzy Yarnold – Skeleton racing

Britain’s most decorated winter Olympian announced her retirement in October after successfully retaining her gold medal in Pyeongchang in February.

Fran Kirby – Football

Was named PFA and FWA Women’s Player of the Year, plus has been nominated for the inaugural women’s Ballon d’Or after stunning a 2017-18 campaign, which saw Chelsea FC Women win the WSL and FA Cup double.

 Georgia Hall – Golf

The 22-year-old became the first English winner of the Women’s British Open in 14 years at Royal Lytham & St Annes, finishing two shots ahead of the pack at 17 under par.

Vicky Holland – Triathlon

Crowned triathlon world champion for the first time, after a fantastic second place finish in the Grand Final on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Laura Kenny – Cycling

Returned to competition after giving birth to her son, winning double gold at the European Championships in Glasgow and double gold at the recent World Cup event in Canada.

Menna Fitzpatrick MBE & Captain Jen Kehoe MBE – Visually impaired Alpine Skiing

Britain’s most successful Winter Paralympians won four medals at the winter Paralympics – including gold in the visually-impaired slalom.

Lucy Bronze – Football

Nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or after winning the Champions League with French side Lyon, and helping them secure a twelfth straight league title.

The Team of the Year nominees include:

• England Netball
• Chelsea F.C. Women
• GB Athletics 4 x 100 relay

The winners will be announced at the BT Sport Action Woman of the Year Awards show, presented by Clare Balding and broadcast live on BT Sport 2 and online, from 7.30pm on Monday 3rd December 2018. Simon Green, Head of BT Sport, said: “Women’s sport has been unstoppable this year with incredible achievements across the board. These strong and successful sportswomen are inspiring the next generation of athletes and we are delighted to be able to recognise and celebrate all they have achieved in 2018. We want everyone to get behind their favourite inspirational sportswoman of 2018 and show their appreciation by voting.”

To vote for your BT Sport Action Woman of the Year visit www.btsport.com/actionwoman2018

Courtesy of BT Sport via Pitch

Jodie Taylor at The BT Sport Action Woman Awards 2017, BT Sport Studio, London

The Seattle Reign forward beat off competition from a shortlist of eight women, with exceptional sporting performances throughout the year, to win the public vote.

In what has been an outstanding year for women’s sport with inspirational individual and team performances, Jodie beat off competition from World Champion canoeist Mallory Franklin in second place and Jo Konta, the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon singles semi-finals since 1978, in third. Jo also reached a career-high ranking of world number four in 2017.

Jodie received her award from Rachel Atherton, the 2016 winner, at the awards ceremony at the BT Sport Studio, hosted by Clare Balding and broadcast live on BT Sport 2, BT Sport’s Facebook page and btsport.com.

Dannie Wyatt and Anya Shrubsole with Frank Lampard

The England cricket team walked away with the Team of the Year award following their thrilling World Cup victory over India. Former England and Chelsea midfielder and BT Sport pundit Frank Lampard presented Anya Shrubsole, player-of-the-match in the final, with the award as the whole team capped a fine year with another trophy.

Judy Murray received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition for her commitment to tennis, and the impact and the inspiration she has given to so many others. Not only has Judy supported and helped two sons become Wimbledon champions and captained Great Britain’s Fed Cup team, Judy continues to work tirelessly to get more girls playing tennis, to get more women to take up coaching, and to increase female participation across all age groups.

The BT Sport Action Woman Awards 2017 Lifetime Achievement Winner, Judy Murray with Johanna Konta, BT Sport Studio, London

BT Sport presenter Clare Balding, said: “The BT Sport Action Woman Awards celebrate truly astounding women who have excelled with their sporting achievements over the past twelve months. It has been a breakthrough year for women’s sport – millions of people watching, greater investment and stunning performances. BT Sport is committed to celebrating the success of female athletes and our nominees this year prove that women’s sport is marching onwards and upwards.”

Report courtesy of BT Sport via Pitch