Sports Personality of the Year 2013: the contenders – in pictures

Mo Farah: Athletics Odds: 28/1 At the world athletics championships in Moscow, Farah became only the second man in history to record the ‘double-double’ after securing 10,000m and the 5,000m gold to add to those he won at the Olympics in 2012. In so doing, he was hailed as the Britain's greatest long-distance athlete in history. HW Photograph: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images

Ben Ainslie: Sailing Odds: 33-1 After receiving a knighthood in the 2013 New Year Honours list for his services to sailing, the four-time Olympic gold medallist went on to fulfil a childhood dream when he was inspirational in one of the greatest sporting comebacks in history. Ainslie, brought into Oracle Team USA as tactician when the defending boat were in danger of being crushed by the challengers Emirates Team New Zealand, was the key figure in the turnaround. The New Zealanders at one point led the competition 8-1. Eight straight victories for Team USA secured an improbable win in the deciding race with Ainslie hailed as the difference between the two. HW Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Leigh Halfpenny: Rugby union Odds: 80-1 The Welsh full-back established himself as one of the leading backs in world rugby following a superb Six Nations and Lions series. The Cardiff Blues player as voted the Six Nations player of the championship and was later named Lions player of the series after featuring in all three Tests as Warren Gatland's side secured the Lions' first series win since 1997. Halfpenny is one of the five players nominated for the IRB Player of the Year award. LR Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

Justin Rose: Golf 
Odds: 50-1 Rose became the first English major winner in 17 years when he won this year's US Open in June. Rose, who turned 33 in July, produced a stunning final round to secure his first major and finally fulfil the talent he showed in finishing fourth aged 17 at the 1998 Open. No other English player had won the tournament since Tony Jacklin in 1970. LR Photograph: Rob Carr/Getty Images

Chris Froome: Cycling Odds 20-1

 Froome succeeded Sir Bradley Wiggins in winning the 2013 Tour de France. The 28-year-old lived up to his favourite tag, winning three stages and wearing the yellow jersey for 13 of the 21 days of the race. He then won the coveted Velo d'Or award for the best rider of 2013. The 2012 Olympic bronze medallist also finished a close second in the final UCI World Tour Rankings for the year both individually and as a member of Team Sky. LR Photograph: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Hannah Cockroft: Athletics 
Odds: tbc 

The double 2012 Paralympic gold medallist continued her irrepressible form in 2013 as she won two further titles at the IPC World Championships in Lyon. The T34 sprinter eased to victory in both the 100m and 200m to confirm her status as the world's fastest athlete in her category. Her dominance across the events are demonstrated by her six global titles within the past three years. LR And Field Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Ian Bell: Cricket
 Odds: 100-1 Bell was the key figure for England as the team secured a third consecutive Ashes series on home soil, defeating Australia 3-0. Bell scored centuries at Trent Bridge, Lord's and Chester-le-Street, his innings's forming the backbone of England's victory and seeing him named man of the series. HW Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

Christine Ohuruogu: Athletics Odds: 66-1 Ohuruogu stunned the defending champion Amantle Montsho at the world athletics championships in Moscow, beating her to gold with a late surge and dip on the line. In the process, Ohuruogu broke Kathy Cook's 29-year-old British record and, having won gold at the championships in 2007, became the first British female athlete to win multiple world titles. The 2008 Olympic champion was also named the female British Athlete of the Year. LR Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images

AP McCoy: Racing Odds: 33-1 In November, the 39-year-old became the first jump jockey to record 4000 career race wins, an unprecedented milestones. McCoy, the 18-time champion jockey and 2010 Grand National winner, has hinted that he will now aim for 5000 wins in a career already spanning more than two decades. HW Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Andy Murray: Tennis
 Odds: 1-28 

Finally, finally, Murray made the breakthrough that a nation had craved when he became the first British men's singles champion at Wimbledon for 77 years in 2013. After a stellar 2012 in which Murray had won Olympic gold and his first Grand Slam at Flushing Meadow in New York, he surpassed those achievements when he crushed world No1 Novak Djokovic in straight sets at SW19 in July. HW
Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian