Sports Personality of the Year – Olympic Nominees 

Jessica Fox – Canoe/Kayak 

Nine-time World Champion and dual Olympic medallist, Jess Fox recently became the most successful slalom paddler in the history of her sport, usurping both her mum and dad from the throne! 

The 24-year-old won gold in both the women’s K1 and C1 at the 2018 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships and became the first of her sport to finish her season undefeated in a boat class (C1). 

Fox recently picked up both the Paddler of the Year and President’s Award at the recent Paddle Australia Awards. 

The Penrith local started her Olympic journey back in 2010, where she won K1 gold at the Singapore Youth Olympic Games. 

Mark Knowles - Hockey 

Four-time Olympian, Olympic gold and bronze medallist and former Kookaburras skipper Mark Knowles announced his plans for retirement this year, after an illustrious career spanning 15 years. 

On top of his Olympic achievements, Knowles boasts three Commonwealth Games gold, five Champions Trophies, two World Cup titles and capped off his tenure eclipsing 300 games played for his country. 

The 34-year-old was the Australian Flag Bearer for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and was recently also nominated for ‘The Don’ award by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. 

Cate Campbell – Swimming 

In one of the greatest comebacks of the year, three time Olympian and dual Olympic gold medallist, Cate Campbell is the poster girl for determination and resilience. 

After taking some time away from swimming post-Rio 2016, the 26-year-old emerged from the water with a bang, breaking the 100m freestyle short course world record before nabbing three golds and a silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. 

She then backed up her performance at Tokyo’s Pan Pacs in August, winning five gold medals and setting a personal best in the 100m freestyle and a meet record for the 50m freestyle. 

Campbell claimed Swimming Australia’s 2018 ‘Olympic Program Swimmer of the Year’ award, along with the Women's Health, Women in Sport 'Sportswoman of the Year' and  ‘Comeback of the Year’ award. 

Sam Kerr - Football 

Matildas forward and Rio 2016 Olympian, Sam Kerr’s name has become synonymous with Aussie success, helping her country climb up FIFA’s World Rankings and becoming Australia’s first ever female marquee football player. 

The backflipping 25-year-old also added ‘Young Australian of the Year’ to her crown in 2018, took out the Women's Health, Women in Sport "Leadership Award" and was recently nominated for ‘The Don’ award by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. 

Kerr, who is the all-time leading goal scorer for the NWSL will be a solid staple as the Matildas head into the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and their bid to qualify for Tokyo 2020. 

Liz Cambage – Basketball 

Dual Olympian and bronze medallist, Liz Cambage made history earlier in the year, by breaking a 22-year-old record set by Michael Jordan and scoring an incredible 53 points in one WNBA game. 

The towering centre also helped the Opals secure gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games before recently claiming silver at the 2018 FIBA World Cup. 

The 27-yerar-old was named one of FIBA’s World Cup All-Star Five and All-WNBA First Team, capping off an incredible year. 

Best Sporting Moment – Olympic Nominees 

Record in the Relay – Cate Campbell, Bronte Campbell, Emma McKeon and Shayna Jack.

Olympians Cate and Bronte Campbell, Emma McKeon and Pan Pacs gold medallist Shayna Jack banded together to pull off one of the most impressive wins of 2018. 

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games the team broke their own world record by more than half a second in the 4x100m freestyle relay.  

During the race Cate Campbell swam the fastest female relay split in history, coming in at 51 seconds, with the team finding gold at a combined time of 3:30.05. 

Millman the Conqueror – John Millman 

Rio Olympian John Millman became the first Aussie in almost two decades to take down tennis heavyweight, Roger Federer at a major tournament. 

Ranked 55th, he pulled off a performance of David and Goliath proportions, toppling Federer at the US Open in four sets. 

It was undoubtedly the biggest win of his career as well as his first time reaching a grand slam quarter-final. 

Dennis’ Rainbow Stripes – Rohan Dennis 

Dual Olympic cyclist and silver medallist, Rohan Dennis claimed the prestigious time trial rainbow jersey at the UCI Road World Championships in Austria, making him the second Aussie male to win a world time trial title and the first Australian to do so since 2009. 

The Adelaide local’s pivotal moment came after years of misfortune, including a punctured tyre at the 2015 Worlds, a broken aero bar at Rio 2016 and a crash at last years’ Worlds. 

You can cast your vote and find the full list of nominees HERE.

Voting closes December 9 at 5pm AEDT, with winners being announced on December 13.

Liana Buratti
olympics.com.au