Adam Peaty and Tom Daley in running for BBC Sports Personality of the Year

Olympic champions Adam Peaty and Tom Daley have been shortlisted for the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

They are among six contenders in the running for the accolade with the winner due to be announced on Sunday 19 December.

Boxer Tyson Fury, tennis player Emma Raducanu, footballer Raheem Sterling and Paralympic cyclist Dame Sarah Storey are also in contention for the honour.

Peaty became the first British swimmer to retain an Olympic title when he triumphed in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke at the rearranged Tokyo 2020 Games.

Five years after his success in Rio, Peaty clocked his fifth fastest time ever to win in 57.37 seconds – 0.63 ahead of his nearest rival.

The 26-year-old returned from Japan with a total of three medals after also winning a gold and a silver in two relays.

He was part of the record-breaking mixed medley team alongside Kathleen Dawson, James Guy and Anna Hopkin who picked up Team GB’s fourth swimming gold of the Games in a new world best time of 3:37.58.

We're delighted to announce the nominees for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2021 are:

🌟 Tom Daley
🌟 Tyson Fury
🌟 Adam Peaty
🌟 Emma Raducanu
🌟 Raheem Sterling
🌟 Sarah Storey

Voting will open during the live #SPOTY show on BBC One on Sunday, 19 December.

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 13, 2021

His silver in the men’s medley relay alongside Luke Greenbank, Guy and Duncan Scott ensured it was the most medals ever won at a British swimming team at an Olympic Games.

Daley, meanwhile, struck gold during his fourth appearance at an Olympic Games as he created history in Tokyo.

He topped the podium with Matty Lee after the duo won the synchronised 10m Platform title with a series of sensational dives to score 471.81 points – 1.23 clear of the Chinese duo Yuan Ao and Aisen Chen, who were favourites for the crown.

Daley then finished third in the individual 10m platform to become the first Brit to win four Olympic diving medals.

He scored 548.25 points for his six dives to add a third bronze to his Olympic medal haul.

The winner of the 68th annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be decided by public vote during Sunday evening’s programme celebrating the last 12 months of sporting action.

Votes can be submitted by phone or online and the full details will be announced during the show.