Sports Personality of the Year 2012: contenders illustrated by Paul Trevillion

Jessica Ennis is 6-1 with bookies to collect this year's SPOTY trophy following her heptathlon gold medal
Photograph: Paul Trevillion

As female boxing was introduced at the Olympics for the first time, Nicola Adams stepped into the ring for Team GB and won gold
Photograph: Paul Trevillion

Ellie Simmonds, the 2008 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year winner, won two gold medals at the Paralympics this summer
Photograph: Paul Trevillion

Mo Farah – the man who invented the 'Mobot' and collected two gold medals, in the 5,000m and 10,000m, at the Olympics – is 7/1
Photograph: Paul Trevillion

David Weir, aka the Weirwolf, won four gold medals in wheelchair races ranging from 800m to the marathon
Photograph: Paul Trevillion

Rory McIlroy won his second major, the PGA Championship, and helped Europe to a stunning Ryder Cup comeback in 2012
Photograph: Paul Trevillion

Sarah Storey, the former swimmer turned cyclist, collected four gold medals at the summer Paralympics
Photograph: Paul Trevillion

Scottish rower Katherine Grainger finally won gold at London 2012 after claiming silver in each of the previous three Olympics
Photograph: Paul Trevillion

Chris Hoy added two more gold medals to his huge haul, making him the most decorated British Olympian of all time, alongside Bradley Wiggins
Photograph: Paul Trevillion

Bradley Wiggins looks set to add the BBC Sports Personality of the Year gong to his Tour de France title and his time trial gold medal at the Olympic Games, if the bookies are correct. He's a skinny 3-10 to collect the award at Sunday’s ceremony
Photograph: Paul Trevillion

Andy Murray finally got the monkey off his back by winning the US Open – his first victory in a major final, at the fifth attempt. He also took gold in the men's singles at the Olympics
Photograph: Paul Trevillion

Veteran sailor Ben Ainslie won his fourth consecutive gold medal, at the London 2012 Games
Photograph: Paul Trevillion