Unsurprisingly, Joshua, whose enthralling victory over Wladimir Klitschko for the WBA, IBF and IBO world heavyweight titles at Wembley in April was watched by more than 80,000 people, is a short-priced favourite for the main award, which will be presented in Liverpool on 17 December.
Anya Shrubsole (Cricket)
The 25-year-old took a match-winning six for 46 in the final as England’s women beat Australia to win the World Cup
Mo Farah (Athletics)
Ended a glorious track career with world championship gold over 10,000m in London in August
Chris Froome
Another year, another yellow jersey. Froome won a fourth Tour de France and followed it up with Vuelta glory in Spain
Anthony Joshua (Boxing)
Britain’s world heavyweight champion got off the floor to stop the legendary Wladimir Klitschko in a thriller at Wembley
Elise Christie (Speed skating)
Won the 1,000m, 1,500m and overall titles at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in March
Jonnie Peacock (Para-athletics)
The Strictly star was even more electric on the track, storming to 100m gold in the T44 Para-Athletics world championships
Harry Kane (Football)
Scored 29 goals in 30 Spurs Premier League appearances last season and has shown no signs of slowing down since
Bianca Walkden (Taekwondo)
Walkden claimed her second world title as well as winning grand prix events in London, Rabat and Moscow
Adam Peaty (Swimming)
He won both the 50m and 100m world breaststroke titles and broke the 50m world record twice in the process
Johanna Konta (Tennis)
Britain’s best women’s player in a generation won titles in Sydney and Miami and reached the Wimbledon semis
Lewis Hamilton (F1)
His fourth Formula One drivers’ championship made him Britain’s most successful driver in history
Jonathan Rea (Motorcycling)
Rea’s brilliant performances in Superbikes this year earned him another world title – his third on the trot
Source: The Guardian
