Adams, Murray and Wiggins: BBC SPOTY Nominees Prediction

After the undeserved criticism of the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award nominee shortlist last year, an alteration in the manner of which the list is compiled has been introduced for 2012.

The 12-person panel comprising of BBC representatives, former nominees, UK sports editors, Baroness Sue Campbell and journalist Sue Mott have compiled this year's list to help avoid any additional controversy following a year which saw no women on the shortlist in 2011.

The shortlist has been extended to 12, a necessary move after a year in British sport during which we're likely to never experience again.

To take a leaf out of previous years' selection process, I've decided to name my 12 nominees for the illustrious award ahead of the unveiling on Monday evening. I've attempted to follow the BBC guidelines to the letter, while taking into account precedent, historical significance, wider sporting implications and the genius of the sporting performance.

So, sharpen your knives.....

Nicola Adams

As women's boxing made its bow in the greatest sporting arena, the Olympic Games, Adams won the event's first ever gold medal in the cauldron of the Excel Arena. The battle to see women's boxing recognised at Olympic level coupled with the role model the sport, especially in the United Kingdom, now possesses makes the wider implications of her success ground-breaking. Her nod to Muhammad Ali will have won her many fans also.

Ben Ainslie

In between becoming the first of 8000 torchbearers on UK soil and then carrying the GB flag during the Olympic closing ceremony, Ainslie wrote him name in sailing history. Victory in the Finn class over Denmark's Jonas Hogh-Christensen, who 'made him angry' earlier in the week of competing, turned Ainslie in to the most successful boatman in the history of the Olympic movement. Rio is likely to see him launch an attempt at a fifth gold.

Jessica Ennis

Amid the weight of expectation, Ennis produced her very best when it mattered. Three personal bests, including an Olympic record in the hurdles and a British record of 6,995 points to claim a memorable Olympic heptathlon gold. The Sheffield athlete sparked Super Saturday into life at the Olympic Stadium as she dominated the evening session to claim gold and capture the hearts of the public.

Mo Farah

With Ennis strolling to victory in the heptathlon and Greg Rutherford producing an unlikely leap of faith in the men's long jump, the headline act of Super Saturday, arguably the greatest night in British sporting history, was Mo Farah. After winning the 10000m title, seven days later, he claimed 5000m gold. Farah was the first British runner in history to win either Olympic title, and just the seventh athlete to win the double in one Games.

Sir Chris Hoy

Hoy surpassed Bradley Wiggins and Sir Steve Redgrave as Britain's most decorated Olympian with two gold medals, to add to the three he claimed in Beijing and the one won in Athens as GB's success on the track continued to amaze. While his Olympic career may be over, his profile will now be used to promote the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, where he'll ride inside the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Rory McIlroy

The USPGA victor by a record eight shots, the first player to win four PGA tour events in a year since Tiger Woods, the European and US money list winner, part of the victorious European Ryder Cup team, the undeniable world No.1 and among the most talented golfers of his generation; if 2011 represented McIlroy's breakthrough, then 2012 was the confirmation of the Northern Irishman's brilliance.

Andy Murray

In the summer, Murray became the first Brit since 1938 to reach the Wimbledon men's singles final, losing to Roger Federer. Three weeks later, he returned to the All-England Club to defeat the Swiss in the Olympic men's gold medal match, Britain's first since 1908, and then claimed mixed doubles silver alongside Laura Robson. To top it off, Murray defeated world No.1 Novak Djokovic in the US Open final to win his maiden grand slam, becoming the first man to win the Olympic gold-US Open double and first British grand slam men's singles champion for 76 years.

Ian Poulter

Top ten finishes in The Augusta Masters, The Open Championship and the USPGA Championship was simply the tip of iceberg for Poulter in 2012. While he became only the second European to win two WGC titles, following his victory in Shanghai, his crowning performance came in the Ryder Cup. In winning four points from as many matches, he inspired Europe from 10-6 down going into Sunday's singles, to one of the greatest sporting comebacks in Medinah.

Ellie Simmonds

Two gold medals, two world records; Simmonds was the queen of the pool at the Paralympic Games. Her rivalry with Victoria Alen saw her hold the upper hand as she also claimed a silver and bronze medal to cap a remarkable summer for the 18 year old. Very much the face of British swimming, Simmonds has already won the Young Paralympian of the Year award.

Sarah Storey

Dropped from the able-bodied pursuit team at the turn of the year, Storey showed the Olympic squad what they were missing with an amazing performance during the Paralympic Games. Four cycling gold medals followed, adding to the two won in Beijing to give her 11 golds won across two different sports. Just the 22 Paralympic medals to her name, London 2012 was the pinnacle of her illustrious career.

David Weir

Weir enjoyed a golden summer in London. Winner of the London marathon prior to the Paralympic Games, the 33 year old claimed four gold medals come London 2012. After a dominating victory in the 5000m final, Weir defended both his title from Beijing in the 1500m and 800m, before powering to another Marathon victory in the English capital to secure his sixth career Paralympic gold.

Bradley Wiggins

The first British winner of the Tour de France in its' 99 year history, Wiggins then added time trial Olympic gold, becoming the first rider ever to complete the double, at the London 2012 Olympics. Having failed to finish outside the podium places on the circuit in the lead-up to the Tour, Wiggins is the undeniable king on the bike. Already campaigning for safer conditions for cyclists on the road, his success is likely to have far reaching implications.