BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year 2008 top three unveiled
BBC One · Sport Shows · 30 Nov 2008 · by: BBC Press Office
The three contenders for the prestigious Young Sports Personality of the Year award are announced today as: Olympic diver Tom Daley, Wimbledon tennis star Laura Robson and Paralympic double gold medallist, swimmer Eleanor Simmonds.
The trio of stars have been whittled down from an original shortlist of ten, with the winner being announced at BBC Sports Personality Of The Year 2008 on BBC One, Sunday 14 December, 7.00-9.00pm.
The live event will be held at Liverpool's Echo Arena for the first time and is a sell-out with around 9,000 people attending, making it the biggest Sports Personality ever.
Last year's winner, Tom, was Britain's youngest competitor at the Beijing Olympics and is the second-youngest British male Olympian of all time. He came seventh and eighth in the 10m individual platform and synchronised diving events.
Laura was crowned Wimbledon junior champion this summer – she was the youngest player in the entire tournament and the first Briton since Annabel Croft in 1984 to win the junior girls' title.
Paralympic swimmer Eleanor won double gold in the 100m freestyle S6 and 400m freestyle S6 in Beijing this year, and is Britain's youngest-ever individual Paralympic gold medallist.
The award is made to the outstanding young sportsperson aged 16 or under on 1 January 2008.
Previous winners include Andy Murray, Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott.
The live show will be presented by Sue Barker, Gary Lineker and Jake Humphrey.
In addition to Young Sports Personality of the Year there will also be awards for:
- Sports Personality of the Year
- Team of the Year
- Coach of the Year
- Overseas Sports Personality of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement
- Helen Rollason Award
- Sports Unsung Hero (supported by Robinsons)
