Sports heroes, icons, role models. A range of sports experts from newspapers and magazines across the UK were asked to send in their top 10 selections.
From these nominations, the final of 10 contenders for the 2011 BBC Sports Personality of the Year were selected. A public phone vote will decide the winner on BBC One, which will be broadcast live on December 22nd. In a list that generated controversy in a country that is represented by the world’s greatest distance swimmers (both open water and pool), the lack of women did not sit well with many.
While the Daily Star nominated Keri-Anne Payne, who graciously showed appreciated for her male sports colleagues, it was only the Daily Star that nominated the dominant world open water swimming champion.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.