Despite delivering one of the standout moments of the Olympic Games and becoming the most decorated triathlete ever, Alex Yee is still considered a long shot in the betting for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) award, even after carrying the Team GB flag at the closing ceremony and clinching the world title.
The last triathlete to place in the SPOTY top three was the legendary Alistair Brownlee, yet even he did not accomplish the Olympic Games and world title double in the same year, as Yee has. Still, Yee’s odds sit at about 100/1.
One factor working against him is the overwhelming public interest in Keely Hodgkinson’s triumph in the 800 meters, which marked her first global title. Hodgkinson is currently the odds-on favorite for the BBC award, but aside from her, the competition is relatively open. Could Yee have a chance?
Sky Bet’s Sports Trader Andy Bell provided insight into the fluctuations in Yee’s betting odds over the year: “We initially priced Alex at 80/1 at the start of the year for SPOTY.
After his impressive comeback for Olympic gold, his odds shortened to 20/1, but then drifted back out to 125/1 as other athletes took center stage. However, after he claimed the world champion title, his odds halved again to 66/1.
With Keely Hodgkinson the favorite at 4/11, it demonstrates how triathlon continues to struggle to capture mainstream attention. Still, beyond Keely, the field is wide open, and Yee definitely has a chance to make the shortlist.”
The SPOTY award ceremony is set for December 15, with the shortlist to be revealed a few weeks earlier. When asked about the possibility of being in contention for the award, Yee offered a typically humble response: “I guess I’ve achieved a year beyond my wildest dreams and it would be really cool for a sport like ours to be even in the conversation for something like BBC Sports Personality.”
Yee’s success hasn’t been confined to just the Paris gold medal. His composed celebration after winning at Supertri Boston in the U.S. also made headlines.
That victory, like many others this season, saw him edge out his New Zealand rival, Hayden Wilde, with whom he’s developed a fascinating yet friendly rivalry.
