Siobhan-Marie O'Connor in race to win Young Sportswoman of the Year Award
Friday 6 November 2015 11:12, UK
Sky Academy Sports Scholar Siobhan-Marie O'Connor is in contention for the 2015 Young Sportswoman of the Year Award, to be revealed live on Sky on Friday night.
The shortlists of finalists were confirmed last month for the 2015 Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards in association with Vitality with the public allowed to vote for their favourites.
The awards presentation will be shown live on Sky Sports 1, and, for the first time, simultaneously on Sky 1, at 9.30pm.
The list of nominations for the year's top young sport star is down to four.
Siobhan-Marie O'Connor (swimming)
Dina Asher-Smith (athletics)
Rachelle Booth (taekwondo)
Ellie Downie (artistic gymnastics)
There are also six leading contenders for the senior Sportswoman of the Year accolade: Lizzie Armitstead (road cycling), Rachel Atherton (mountain biking), Charlotte Dujardin (dressage), Jessica Ennis-Hill (athletics), Bianca Walkden (taekwondo) and Lizzy Yarnold (skeleton).
The Awards, now in their 28th year, have led the way in recognising and celebrating the outstanding contribution to sport made by elite performers, coaches, administrators, community volunteers and inspirational women.
It has been quite a year for O'Connor. The 19-year-old swimmer from Bath won two medals as part of the GB team at the World Championships in Kazan in August.
She was also featured in Sky Academy's documentary broadcast recently on Sky Sports 1 called I am Siobhan-Marie O'Connor.
O'Connor said: "I feel honoured to have been nominated for this year's Young Sportswomen of the Year award.
"We have so many talented female athletes and to make the shortlist feels incredible. I wish everyone who has been nominated, the best of luck!"
The Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards in association with Vitality are among the most prestigious and influential in the British sporting calendar and are once again supported by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, UK Sport, Sport England and Women in Sport.
Discover the latest news and get involved by following #SWOTY in the lead-up to the awards and throughout Friday evening when the winners are announced.
The full shortlist of finalists for 2015:
THE SUNDAY TIMES & SKY SPORTS SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Lizzie Armitstead (road cycling)
Rachel Atherton (mountain biking)
Charlotte Dujardin (dressage)
Jessica Ennis-Hill (athletics)
Bianca Walkden (taekwondo)
Lizzy Yarnold (skeleton)
YOUNG SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Nominees must have been 21 or younger on January 1, 2015
Dina Asher-Smith (athletics)
Rachelle Booth (taekwondo)
Ellie Downie (artistic gymnastics)
Siobhan-Marie O'Connor (swimming)
COMMUNITY AWARD
For individuals who have actively engaged with different groups of people within their community through sport
To be voted for exclusively by Vitality members
Eddie Brocklesby (volunteer director, Silverfit charity, London)
Liverpool Homeless Football Club (volunteer-run club which supports homeless men and women across Merseyside)
Wendy Russell (coach, Brighton and Hove hockey club)
Kay Salter (gymnastics coach, Falcon Spartak club, Sidcup, Kent)
Marnie Swindells (volunteer, Double Jab boxing club, News Cross, south-east London)
VITALITY TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD
Chelsea Ladies
England football
England hockey
Rowing - Helen Glover & Heather Stanning
Watch the Sportswomen of the Year Awards from 9.30pm on Friday on Sky Sports 1 and Sky 1.
It will also be streamed for free on www.skysports.com
You can follow updates via @skysports on Twitter, Vine and Instagram.
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Watch all the build-up throughout the day on Sky Sports News HQ on Friday.
