The Guardian diarist from Leeds made history by becoming the first woman to win Olympic boxing gold with victory over China's Ren Cancan in the flyweight division. Odds: 200-1 Photograph: Scott Heavey/Getty Images
Ainslie's dramatic gold in the Finn class made him the first sailor to win medals in five different Olympics, four of them gold. He was given the honour of carrying the British flag in the closing ceremony. Odds: 150-1 Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
The poster girl of London 2012 certainly did not disappoint, bringing the Olympic Stadium to its feet with a dominant victory in the heptathlon. Odds: 10-1 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian
Farah won his first gold medal in the 10,000 metres on a glorious night that also saw victories for Ennis and Greg Rutherford in the long jump. He added a second gold in the 5,000m, becoming only the seventh man in Olympic history to do the double. Hugely popular and could well improve on last year's third place. Odds: 5-1 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian
Three times a silver medallist at previous Games, the 37-year-old Scottish rower finally won gold in London in the double sculls with Anna Watkins. Odds: 200-1 Photograph: Francisco Leong/AFP/Getty Images
The Scot successfully defended two of his three Olympic titles from Beijing. That gave the 36-year-old six gold medals, making him the most successful British Olympian of all time. Odds: 150-1
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian
The world No1 golfer is the only non-Olympian or Paralympian on the list. He has had a superb year, winning his second major at the USPGA Championship, topping the money lists in both the United States and Europe and helping Europe win the Ryder Cup. Odds: 100-1 Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images
After so many near-misses, Murray hit the jackpot in 2012, beating Roger Federer to win Olympic singles gold on the same court he had tearfully lost to the Swiss four weeks earlier in the Wimbledon final. He then ended Fred Perry's 76-year reign as the last British man to claim a grand slam singles title, by winning the US Open. It still may not be enough to make him Sports Personality of the Year. Odds: 8-1 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian
Simmonds emerged as a star at the Beijing Paralympics when she was only 13, winning two gold medals. She added two more golds, a silver and a bronze in London, where she was one of the star attractions. Odds: 50-1 Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA
Storey's extraordinary dominance of women's cycling at the Paralympics landed her four gold medals and cemented her reputation as one of Britain's finest Paralympians, having switched from swimming after Athens 2004 – a sport in which she won five gold medals. Odds: 200-1 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian
The Londoner stole the show where Paralympic athletics was concerned, winning four gold medals at distances from 800m all the way up to the marathon, taking his tally to 10 medals overall, six of them gold. Odds: 25-1 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian
The hot favourite to win the award, the Guardian columnist has been one of the faces of 2012. He became the first British rider to win the Tour de France and then added Olympic gold in the time trial, his seventh medal overall. He certainly fulfills the personality element. Odds: 2-5 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian
