The Sunday Times have announced their Sportswomen of the Year Awards shortlist, with British aquatic athletes Maisie Summers-Newton, Bethany Firth, Alice Dearing and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix appearing across three of the possible six categories.
Summers-Newton is the only nominee to feature in two
categories, with the double Paralympic champion up for the Young Sportswoman and
Disability Sportswoman awards. The nominations reward the 20 year-old’s efforts
over the summer, as she took three gold medals at the World Para-Swimming
Championships, followed by a maiden Commonwealth title for Team England at Birmingham 2022.
Also joining Summers-Newton in the Disability Sportswoman category is fellow Paralympic champion Firth, with the Northern Ireland swimmer fresh off the back of three gold medals at Madeira’s World Para-Swimming Championships back in June, before going on to claim Commonwealth S14 200m Freestyle gold.
Eighteen-year-old diver Spendolini-Sirieix continues her successful, award-laden year with a nomination in the Young Sportswoman category – following her success in being named The National Lottery’s Athlete of the Year last week. She claimed individual and synchro titles at the European Championships, as well as three medals at the Commonwealth Games.
Marathon swimmer Dearing completes the nominations, as she earns a place on the Changemaker Award shortlist for the second successive year. The award celebrates those who have inspired others and used their platforms to create change.
Throughout 2022, Dearing collaborated with swim cap company Soul Cap to campaign about the wider issues regarding diversity and inclusivity in the swimming world, as well as continuing her work with the Black Swimming Association to encourage more diversity in aquatics. The award is decided by public vote and is now open for voting.
Further British Swimming representation comes on the judging panel, as five-time Paralympic champion Ellie Simmonds and double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington are part of a 12-strong group who will be deciding the winners of some of the awards, with the results announced next month.
Find out more about the nominees and the awards available on the Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year website.