Shortlist announced for The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards 2022 in association with Citi

The shortlist of finalists has been confirmed for the 2022 Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards in association with Citi.

There are 4 leading contenders for the prestigious Sportswoman of the Year accolade.

The awards, now in their 35th year, have led the way in recognising and celebrating the outstanding contribution made to sport by women at all levels, from elite to grassroots.

The public is able to vote for their winners via  www.sportswomenoftheyear.co.uk  

Voting is open until 11:59pm Thursday 10th November

1.      The Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year 2022

The ultimate accolade for your favourite sportswoman of this year

Emily Campbell, Weightlifting

Eilish McColgan, Athletics

Beth Mead, Football

Eve Muirhead, Curling

2. Citi Disability Sportswoman of the Year

The outstanding performer in a disability sport

Olivia Breen, Athletics

Bethany Firth, Swimming

Menna Fitzpatrick, Alpine Skiing

Charlotte Henshaw, Canoeing

Zoe Newson, Powerlifting 

Maisie Summers-Newton, Swimming

3. Young Sportswoman of the Year

Nominees must have been 21 years old or younger on January 1, 2021

Zoe Backstedt, Cycling

Alice Capsey, Cricket

Jessica Gadirova, Gymnastics

Lauren Hemp, Football

Keely Hodgkinson, Athletics

Andrea Spendolini-Siriex, Diving

Maisie Summers-Newton, Swimming

4. Team of the Year

Celebrating the achievements of Britain’s successful collective efforts

England Football's Lionesses

England Rugby's Red Roses

Team GB Gymnastics

Team GB Curling

Team GB Rowing Coxless Four

5. This Girl Can Grassroots Sportswoman of the Year

For individuals who have actively engaged with different groups of people within their community through sport

Mahvish Akram

Amy Cooper

Michelle Glassup

Eloise Moller

6. Changemaker Award

Celebrating those who have inspired others and used their platforms to create change

Alice Dearing

Gymnasts for Change

Lewes FC

Sandra Murphy

7. The Helen Rollason Award for inspiration

Recognising inspirational endeavour in honour of the late sports presenter Helen Rollason

The winner of this award will be revealed at the live awards ceremony on Thursday 17th November.

Emma Tucker, Editor of The Sunday Times, said:

“We are honoured to play a part in the celebration of these incredible women, and to recognise their  phenomenal achievements  with these awards. We have seen some astonishing moments throughout the year, and look forward to marking what will surely stand out as a historic moment for women’s sport."

Nick Greenslade, Deputy Sports Editor, The Sunday Times, said:

“After the extraordinary success in 2021 of British women at the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the launch of the Hundred cricket tournament, it's hard to believe we could rival such a year, but 2022 has delivered. The Lionesses' Euro glory stands out as a strong contender but the list of elite female sporting achievements in this country over the past year is vast - and we have more to come with the Red Roses in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. The shortlists for this year's SWOTY awards include stellar names, not to mention the phenomenal efforts of those nominated in the grassroots and changemaker categories.”

James Bardrick, Citi Country Officer, United Kingdom said:

“Citi is hugely honoured to partner with SWOTY to celebrate the progress and phenomenal sporting achievements of these incredible women – and particularly the Disability Sportswomen of the Year category, which ties into our global commitment to Para sports and the ambition to change the perception of disability. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are foundational to our culture and the growth of our business, enabling us to deliver with excellence for our colleagues, our clients, and the communities we serve.”

From the long-list of nominations from the public, a panel of experts selected the shortlist. This year’s judging panel includes household names Chemmy Alcott (former World Cup alpine ski racer), Ama Agbeze (former England netball captain and Commonwealth Games gold medallist), Rebecca Adlington OBE (World and Olympic champion swimmer), Helen Falkus (Sky Director of Multi-Sports), Kate Richardson-Walsh OBE (former England and GB hockey captain and Olympic gold medallist), Natalie Sawyer (co-host of talkSPORT Weekend Sports Breakfast show), Chrissie Wellington OBE (four-time Ironman triathlon world champion), Tanni Grey-Thompson OBE (paralympc and world champion wheelchair racer), Ellie Simmonds OBE (paralympic and world champion swimmer), Laura Woods (talkSPORT and Sky sports presenter), Helen Glover MBE (Olympic and world champion rower)

The public can vote for their winners until Wednesday 10th November. The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony on Thursday 17th November.

Previous winners of the main award, the coveted Sportswoman of the Year accolade, include Dina Asher-Smith, Elise Christie, Sally Gunnell, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Denise Lewis, Dame Kelly Holmes, Zara Phillips, Victoria Pendleton and Christine Ohuruogu and Hollie Doyle. Emma Radacanu, the British tennis star who won the US Open was crowned the 2021 Sportswoman of the Year last November.

The Sportswomen of the Year Awards are among the most prestigious and influential in the British sporting calendar and are supported by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, UK Sport, Sport England and Women in Sport.

Follow the latest news and get involved by following #SWOTY in the lead up to the Awards.