Ten contenders for BBC Wales Sports Personality 2012
- Published
Ten contenders have been shortlisted as BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2012, which will be unveiled on Monday night.
Footballer Gareth Bale has been the inspirational figure for a Wales team that has struggled in their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Bale scored both goals in a dramatic 2-1 win over Scotland in October , earning Chris Coleman a first win as Wales manager.
Triathlete Leanda Cave produced an amazing double in 2012 to win both the Ironman and Half-Ironman women's World Championships.
The 34-year-old won a triathlon silver medal for Wales at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, a silver for Great Britain at the European Championships and was also crowned triathlon World Champion that year in Mexico.
Boxer Nathan Cleverly has grown in confidence and stature in 2012 with impressive defences of his WBO light-heavyweight title against difficult American opponents.
The undefeated 25-year-old from Cefn Forest handed Tommy Karpency his first defeat with an unanimous points decision in February 2012 in Cardiff.
Cleverly then made the trip to Los Angeles in November to end the challenge of Shawn Hawk, improving the Welshman's record to a perfect 25 wins from 25 fights.
Cyclist Mark Colbourne claimed Wales' first gold of the 2012 Paralympic Games in the track C1 3km Individual Pursuit, breaking the world record twice in a day as he homed in on the title.
The 43-year-old from Tredegar in south Wales had already claimed silver in the track C1-3 1km Time Trial and finished London 2012 with another silver in the road C1 Time Trial.
Multi-talented field athlete Aled Sion Davies claimed two medals at the London 2012 Paralympics, winning a bronze medal in the F42/44 shot put before claiming gold in the F42 discus.
The 21-year-old from Bridgend saw off the challenge of Iranian discus rival Mehrdad Karam Zadeh at the Olympic Stadium with a best throw of 46.14 metres, setting a new European record in the process.
Rower Tom James claimed his second Olympic gold medal at London 2012 as Great Britain's coxless four defended their Beijing title on the waters of Eton Dorney.
James and crewmates Pete Reed, Andy Triggs Hodge and Alex Gregory saw off the challenge of Australia, heading their rivals early on and holding on in the final stages for a thrilling win.
The 28-year-old, who was born in Cardiff but grew up in Coedpoeth near Wrexham, is one of a select handful of Welshmen to have won multiple Olympic gold medals.
Jade Jones excelled at the London 2012 Olympic Games by winning a gold medal in taekwondo.
The 19-year-old from Flint in north Wales beat Yuzhuo Hou 6-4 to take the women's -57kg title.
After a cautious opening from both fighters, Jones went on the offensive and opened up a 5-1 lead that proved enough for the Welsh teenager to close out a stunning victory.
Dan Lydiate was a key performer as the Wales rugby union team claimed a third Grand Slam in eight years.
The Newport Gwent Dragons blind-side flanker was also named the Six Nations player of the tournament for his performances during the campaign.
Josie Pearson took her place on the world stage by winning a gold medal in the F51 discus category at the 2012 Paralympics in London.
The 26-year-old from Hay-on-Wye, Powys, broke the world record three times on her way to gold.
Her best throw of 6.58 metres was enough to hold off the challenge of the Republic of Ireland's Catherine O'Neill, who took silver, and Zena Cole of the United States in bronze.
Cyclist Geraint Thomas became one of only four Welshman to win multiple Olympic gold medals when Great Britain's team pursuit quartet defended their Olympic track title at London 2012, smashing the world record on the way.
It capped a great year for the Welshman and his team-mates Edward Clancy, Steven Burke and Peter Kennaugh as the quartet also won that year's World Championships in Melbourne, Australia.