Jessica Ennis urges more attention to be given to women's sport

Jessica Ennis: The athlete has urged more attention to be paid to women's sport

After being confirmed as one of five women on this year's shortlist for the Sports Personality of the Year prize, Jessica Ennis has urged more attention to be paid to top-level women's sport.

It was last year that the award faced controversy as not one woman was included on the final voting list. However, this year Ennis is joined by Katherine Grainger, Sarah Storey, Nicola Adams and Ellie Simmonds.

Ennis told the Radio Times: "We need more coverage of women's sport and we need to get women involved in coaching and administration.

"It's important that girls aren't afraid of sport. I remember when I first started doing weight training; I didn't want to be any good because I didn't want to be all muscly.

"My coach sat me down and said that if I had more muscles than the average woman, but won an Olympic gold medal, it would be worth it. He was right, but it's hard when you're younger and want to look like everyone else."

Nominees

The bookmakers' favourite to scoop the award is Olympic time trial gold medallist and Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins, ahead of double Olympic champion Mo Farah and US Open winner Andy Murray.

"We need more coverage of women's sport and we need to get women involved in coaching and administration."
Jessica Ennis

Rory McIlroy, world golf number one, expressed his delight at making the list for the second straight year. He added: "It is a real honour to be nominated two years in a row.

"With it being an Olympic year, and with so many outstanding achievements in British sport in 2012, the voting is sure to go right down to the wire."

As well as cyclist Storey and swimmer Simmonds, David Weir was the third Paralympian to be included on the list after his outstanding four-gold haul from London.

Boxer Adams, who floored world number one Ren Cancan on her way to becoming the first Olympic women's boxing champion, added: "I didn't expect to be nominated, let along make the short list. There are so many big names on the list and so many others who didn't make it, that I am just happy to be part of it."