Arsenal star nominated for top award after incredible year

Arsenal forward Beth Mead has been nominated for the Sports Personality of the Year award after helping the Lionesses to European Championship glory this summer.

The BBC today announced the six contenders for the 2022 Sports Personality of the Year. The shortlist includes gymnast Jessica Gadirova, footballer Mead, curling's Eve Muirhead, cricketer Ben Stokes, snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan and athlete Jake Wightman.

The programme, which celebrates the past 12 months of sports action, will give the public an opportunity to vote for who they deem the most deserving winner,

Voting will be open during the show on BBC One on Wednesday, 21 December.

Beth Mead makes the cut

Arsenal star Mead has made the shortlist, after a stellar year in which she won the golden boot and was named player of the tournament as England won Euro 2022.

The Lionesses beat eight-time world champions Germany at Wembley, to lift England’s first trophy at a major women’s tournament and their first major silverware since the 1966 World Cup.

Mead, who only a year earlier was snubbed from the women’s Team GB Olympic squad, scored six goals and contributed five assists at Euro 2022.

The Arsenal forward was since been voted BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2022 while she was also runner-up in the Women's Ballon d'Or, behind Spain and Barcelona star Alexia Putellas.

Speaking of the Euro final, Mead said, via the BBC: "It was a proud moment for me and a surreal moment - walking out of that tunnel and going to play in front of a home crowd.

"The day in general, the noise in general, the atmosphere was honestly something I'll never feel or experience again."