Wednesday 19 November 2014 16:53, UK
2013 Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year Christine Ohuruogu admits a strong shortlist of candidates makes it difficult to pick a winner of this year’s award.
The two-time world 400m champion joined Darren Campbell on Tuesday’s Sportswomen show to look ahead to this year’s awards, which take place on Wednesday night, live on Sky Sports 1 at 8pm.
Charlotte Dujardin, Fran Halsall, Laura Massaro, Jo Pavey, Joanna Rowsell and Lizzy Yarnold are all in contention for this year’s accolade.
The Sportswoman of the Year Award is one of six that will be presented at Wednesday’s ceremony and Ohuruogu is delighted at the depth of quality in the field.
“It’s a struggle to pick a winner from this list but I suppose the good thing is that it is hard to pick a winner,” Ohuruogu told Sky Sports News HQ.
“It shows the standard and the quality of women’s sport. It shows women’s sport is on the rise and we are now finding so much talent in women’s sport when it comes to the UK and that’s really what you want.
“You want it to be a hard list. You want it to be a tough list and a really strong group of women to pick from.”
Commonwealth, European and Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter Campbell is relieved he is not tasked with selecting the winner of the 2014 Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year.
“When you look at the six nominees, between them they have won over 20 medals,” he said.
“So do you go with the amount of medals that were won, or do you go on the emotional factor when you talk about the likes of Jo Pavey and what she’s been through to win her medals?
“It’s about how you actually select a winner because the reality is they are all winners. But as always with awards ceremonies, you have to pick one. I’m glad I’m not on the judging panel, if I’m honest.”
Previous winners of the main award include Paula Radcliffe, Sally Gunnell, Denise Lewis, Dame Kelly Holmes, Zara Phillips, Victoria Pendleton and Jessica Ennis-Hill.
Ohuruogu scooped last year’s prize ahead of cyclist Becky James, triathlete Non Stanford, England cricketer Heather Knight, skeleton racer Shelley Rudman and dressage rider Dujardin.
“It was fantastic,” she said. “It was off the back of a really challenging year.
“I’d won the World Championships for the second time and it was a great feeling, but what made it even more amazing for me is that it was such a strong nominee list. To have been picked out of a really glorious bunch of women was quite special.”
Awards will be given out in seven categories at the ceremony.
The contenders for Team of the Year are the England rugby union team, the England cricket team, rowers Helen Glover and Heather Stanning and the GB 4x100m athletics relay squad.
Watch the Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards 2014 live on Wednesday evening. Coverage starts at 8pm, Sky Sports 1HD.
