Sportswomen of the Year Awards

Sportswomen of the Year Awards – closing date for nominations 15 October

The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards will take place on Thursday 8 November and nominations are now open.

The awards are an opportunity to celebrate the amazing performances of elite sportswomen, coaches, administrators and community projects.

Once again, Sport England is supporting the awards and Sportcher would like to encourage you to nominate in the Community Award which recognises projects that have successfully encouraged more women in sport at grass roots level.

Nominations close at midnight on 15 October and following this, a judging panel, chaired by Radio Five Live presenter Eleanor Oldroyd, will decide on the shortlist for each category.

To cast your vote visit the Sunday Times website.

The 2012 Sunday Time Sportswomen of the Year Awards are your chance to recognise the sportswomen who excelled throughout Britain’s greatest summer of sport.

Now in their 25th year, The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards — among the most influential in the sporting calendar — celebrate the significant and outstanding contributions made by the most prominent elite performers, coaches, administrators, community volunteers and inspirational female figures.

This has been a particularly poignant year for British sport and it would not be a surprise if the stellar performances witnessed by millions of people at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games dominate proceedings. Of the record 65 medals achieved by Team GB at the Olympics, British women were involved in 25 of them. The likes of Nicola Adams, Charlotte Dujardin, Jessica Ennis, champions in August.

Then, a few weeks later at the Paralympics, our ladies once more led the way — British female competitors were involved in 19 of the 34 gold medals won by the host nation over the course of 11 days. The likes of Natasha Baker, Sophie Christiansen, Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Sarah Storey all became multiple champions as well as household names.

More so than any other national newspaper, The Sunday Times has led the way since 1988 in recognising the achievements of Britain’s leading sportswomen. Previous winners of our main award — the prestigious Sportswoman of the Year accolade — include Paula Radcliffe, Pippa Funnell, Denise Lewis, Dame Kelly Holmes, Zara Phillips and Victoria Pendleton. Sarah Stevenson, the 2011 world Taekwondo champion, was crowned the overall winner last December.

Once again the Awards are supported by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, UK Sport, Sport England and the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF).

After the online nomination process has closed a judging panel — chaired by the distinguished BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Eleanor Oldroyd — will decide upon the respective shortlists for each of the 10 categories. The winners and runner-ups will be announced at an evening ceremony in London on Thursday November 8.

The 10 award categories are:

The Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year
The ultimate accolade for your favourite sportswoman this year

Olympian of the Year
The outstanding figure at the London 2012 Olympic Games

Young Olympian of the Year
The outstanding figure, 21 years of age or younger, at the London 2012 Olympic Games

Paralympian of the Year
The outstanding figure at the London 2012 Paralympic Games

Young Paralympian of the Year
UK Sport award for the outstanding figure, 21 years of age or younger, at the London 2012 Paralympic Games

Team of the Year
Sport and Recreation Alliance award celebrating the achievements of Britain’s successful collective efforts

Coach of the Year
Acknowledging the coaches who, often unpaid and unheralded, have worked tirelessly to nurture the talents of our female athletes

Community Award
Sport England award for individuals who have actively engaged with different groups of women within their community through sport

Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognising a lifetime of sporting success

The Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration
Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation award recognising inspirational endeavour in honour of the late BBC sports presenter Helen Rollason

Supported by:
UK Sport
Sport England
Sport and Recreation Alliance
Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation

To cast your vote visit the Sunday Times website.