Now that the Olympics are over and we can draw some breath before the Paralympics and Ryder Cup take place, perhaps we can indulge a little on how on earth the BBC’s SPOTY will pan out in December? Usually they name a top ten as a short-list. This time they have the perfect excuse to change a tiring format and name a top 20, such has been the wealth of British sporting success in 2016 – so far! If SPOTY took place tomorrow this would be my top 19 so far – not all would necessarily deserve to win it over some of the others, and there is still a successful Paralympian or two to squeeze in, let alone Lewis Hamilton – but all deserve to be named after their extraordinary feats.

Danny Willet – Masters champion.

Chris Froome – 3rd time Tour de France champion and Olympic bronze medal.

Andy Murray – 2nd time Wimbledon champ, Olympic gold medallist.

Mo Farah – the double double.

Max Whitlock – 1st (and 2nd) ever men’s gymnastics gold.

Jack Laugher – gold and silver in diving.

Adam Peaty – gold and silver (and world record) in the breast-stroke.

Jason Kenny – 3 time cycling gold medallist, 6 golds in total (and a silver) – GB men’s equal 1st in gold medals.

Laura Trott – 2 cycling golds, 4 in total (GB women’s record).

Katherine Grainger – a silver to make it 4 silvers and a gold in 5 successive Games.

Nicola Adams – a 2nd successive women’s boxing gold.

Jade Jones – a 2nd successive women’s taekwondo gold.

Helen Glover/Heather Stanning – a 2nd successive gold in the women’s pairs.

Bradley Wiggins – team pursuit gold making him number one Brit in number of medals (8).

Alistair Brownlee – 2nd successive triathlon gold.

Charlotte Dujardin – gold and silver in dressage.

Kate Richardson-Walsh – for showing exceptional leadership as GB won the women’s hockey gold.

Joe Root – for becoming the best batsman in the world.

Jamie Vardy – steering Leicester City to an unlikely title.

 

Still to come.

Paralympians.

Lewis Hamilton – 4th time F1 world champ.

 

Similarly it looks as if Leicester City will be named team of the year. They play the number one sport in this country and pulled off an extraordinary, 5000-1 title. But I would also like to see a special award presented to the women’s GB hockey team for their similarly extraordinary feats in Rio. It is the least they deserve. (The England rugby team miss out, which is harsh after winning a first Grand Slam in 13 years!).

There, that should get you arguing. Pick a top 3 out of that lot!