With such a wealth of success not seen since the beginning of time, the year of 2012 will always be synonymous with British sport. In no small part due to the spectacle that was the London Olympics now the whole world finally knows what most Brits have been shouting in vain for years and years “We ARE good at something!”

A nation who despite gifting the world such sporting pursuits as cricket, football, rugby and golf, and which hasn’t really won a lot recently, can smile smugly and hold its head a little bit higher once again.

Of course, in the plethora of triumphant underdogs and stellar achievements witnessed, not just in the nation’s capital, but also on the courts of Flushing Meadows and streets of Paris, a select few have emerged who stand out. It’s unfortunate that so many athletes who have dedicated their lives to reaching the summit of their sport (in itself a task that has defeated countless worthy individuals) are not all in the reckoning this year. It just goes to show how the task of deciding who will be crowned BBC Sports personality of the year 2012 is one of the hardest in living memory.

To help add fire to the debate that will rage until the ceremony on December 16th we have compiled a list of 10 contenders that have a chance to take the prize:

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