Andy Murray is the only previous tennis winner, when he won the US Open Juniors, so Heaather has a good chance. Two of the best known nominees, Tom Daley and Eleanor Simmonds, are previous winners, which may count against them.
Whether it's a 'sporting' achievement is another matter though.
Looking at the contenders though, I would say Daley would win on merit as long as winning it before doesn't count against him, Jodie Williams in second (her performances are immense) and Heather in third.
I don't really know how good the achievements of the motor racing girl and the rugby player are compared to the norm.
-- Edited by djlovesyou on Saturday 14th of November 2009 02:50:43 PM
Ellen MacArthur finished 2nd in 2001, which shows that the public very much believe it to be. And I, myself, do believe it to be a sporting achievement.
Unfortunately Heather has no chance as Laura won her grand slam 3 years before her and didn't win. Surprised Olly made the top 10 but well deserved. Why hasn't Jack Wilshere been picked . Just goes to show the depth of talent we have in the juniors. Daley to win as he is likely to be shortlisted for the seniors as well. Don't think Becky Downie should have made the shortlist. She is very good in terms of GB level but as gymnasts peak at a younger age she should be winning World Champs to be shortlisted.
Just to say that yesterday the final 3 were announced and included Heather as well as Daley and the prodigiously talented sprinter Williams. Interesting that Simmonds has been overlooked this year. Tom will probably win but great that Heather made the final 3. As an athletics fan as well I would like Jodie to win if Heather can't. Tom has already won it after all.
So they threw apple cores? Is that it...hardly crime of the century is it
I didn't mean to imply that it was. As I see it, however, they've maintained the unsavoury tradition of British boys (& girls) behaving badly abroad, offered proof that, as things stand at the moment, they're incapable of acting their age & not their shoe size & thus probably require a chaperone until they prove that they can actually behave!
Hate to say it Seagull, but you seem to be missing the point totally! These kids are out there representing not only themselves, but the tennis world in Britain and for what it's worth the country. To hear you excusing their behaviour because others do similar is pathetic and pandering to the lowest standards out there. The DM isn't everyone's cup of tea, but don't slag them off for drawing attention to poor conduct.
I have to say, although I can't stand much of the Daily Mail and it is often a parody of itself, in this case I do agree that throwing apple cores at folk, while maybe not crime of the century, is totally out of order for juniors on a trip abroad representing GB.
To my mind, the LTA are absolutely right to have acted here and they deserved at the very least as much as they got.
-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 24th of November 2009 05:37:13 PM