Athletic popularity judged in Britain

While Sailing seeks to heighten its commercial profile with broadcast friendly formats for the America’s Cup and SailGP, the real measure is athlete awareness. Watching fast boats is one thing; recognizing the athletes walking down a street on Tuesday is what sells product.

Is Ben Ainslie the closest to having that status? The UK-based BBC, considered to be the world’s largest broadcasting corporation, annually puts this to the test with their BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. The winner is the sportsperson, judged by a public vote, to have achieved the most that year. Ben is being considered for the 2024 award.

Recent past winners have come from football, tennis, and Formula One, and while a middle-distance runner (above) and darts player are strong favorites, the latest odds have Ben – known in 2024 for his attempt to win the America’s Cup – as the fifth most likely to win. The award recipient will be announced December 17, 2024.