As the 2021 calendar draws to a close, it is once again time to look back on the sporting achievements we've witnessed this year and sift through our favourites to help us decide Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY).
The nominations for the World Sports Star of the Year award have also been listed and one firm favourite from close to home has been named among them: jockey Rachael Blackmore.
At this year's Cheltenham Festival, Blackmore was crowned Leading Rider among the six winners, not only becoming the first female rider to ever win the title but the first female to ride the winner of a Championship, partnering with the Henry de Bromhead-trained thoroughbred Honeysuckle to take victory in the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle.
To add to an already SPOTY-worthy feat, just three weeks later, Henry and Rachael partnered up again for a historic win in the Aintree Grand National, riding Minella Times for Irish business and racehorse owners JP McManus.
Not only did the 32-year-old, once again, become the first woman to ride the winner in the race but she rightly went on to win the 2021 HRI ‘Irish Racing Hero’ Award.
Blackmore has also naturally been nominated for the RTE Sportsperson of the Year Award and has found herself in good company for the World Sports Star award. Here is the full list of nominees:
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez
Rachael Blackmore
Tom Brady
Novak Djokovic
Elaine Thompson-Herah
Max Verstappen
To vote for your BBC Sports Personality of the Year, as well as World Sport Star of the year, click here. Voting closes at 1pm on December 14th.
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