BBC One

On successfully defending his Olympic title, Adam Peaty said: "It's very, very hard to win one Olympic gold, not many people have them.

"To do it again is a thousand times harder. You can't put it down to one thing - for me, it was just going for it.

"You can't sugar-coat sport. I want to inspire as many people as I can, that's my purpose. I want to make people at home feel the performance, feel the love."

BBC One

Here's what Adam Peaty had to say on BBC One, on how his son, George, has changed him: "It's purpose. You can train however much you want to, I believe anyone can do that, but for me it's purpose. Every single meter, I fight to be the best athlete and best possible dad for him."

On training during the pandemic, he added: "Probably one of the toughest moments of my life. Getting on those lane ropes was like a close to a chapter. I'm happy now, everything's paid off. The time the energy. Sport takes everything from you. It was so tough."

Before we go any further, make sure you're in a position to vote later in the show.

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"She's absolutely incredible."

What a year it has been for Dame Sarah Storey.

A 17th Paralympic gold sealed Sarah Storey's status as Great Britain's most successful Paralympian of all time.

In Tokyo, Storey defended the women's C4-5 road race title she has held since London 2012 to put her one gold ahead of previous record holder Mike Kenny.

Storey's gold was her third of the Tokyo Paralympics - her eighth Games since making her debut in Barcelona in 1992 as a 14-year-old swimmer.

She also won the individual pursuit on the track before claiming time-trial gold as she took her overall Paralympic medal tally to 28.

Yes, that is SEVENTEEN titles for Sarah Storey.

Here's why she's on the shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Katie Falkingham
BBC Sport

The build-up to the re-arranged 2021 Paralympics was like no other, and made all the more challenging for some of the athletes headed for Tokyo who were required to shield for medical reasons during the pandemic. But ParalympicsGB defied every challenge put in their way and delivered 124 medals, placing them second behind China on the medal table.

There is only one place to start and that is with Sarah Storey. The former para-swimmer turned para-cyclist’s third gold in Tokyo saw her become Great Britain’s most successful Paralympian of all time with 17 – yes, SEVENTEEN – titles.

ParalympicsGB won its first title in a team sport with wheelchair rugby gold, while there was double gold for both Hannah Cockroft on the track, and Kadeena Cox in the velodrome.

Image source, Getty Images

The boards of Izu also saw husband and wife Neil and Lora Fachie win gold on the same day, while Jaco van Gass took home three medals from his first Paralympic Games.

In the pool, Reece Dunn won five medals, including three golds, and while Ellie Robinson didn’t win a medal this time around, her incredible post-race interview was one of the most emotional moments of the Games.

Eight medals were won in the equestrian despite late team changes and some inexperienced horses, while David Smith came from behind to retain his boccia BC1 title from Rio.

Image source, Getty Images

At the Tokyo Paralympics, Great Britain won 124 medals, including 41 golds, to finish second in the medal table behind China.

Incredibly, GB won medals in 18 of the 19 sports they competed in.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport at SPOTY

The members of the media who are here are positioned in a room down the corridor from the studio and, like many, also watching things unfold on a TV.

We just saw zoom screens aplenty with sports stars watching on from home but some are here - like Adam Peaty as we have just seen - and this is where we will get the chance to grab a word with them.

Image source, BBC Sport

Hopefully I'll catch up with one or two of those in attendance.

Belinda: Opening montage to SPOTY giving me goosebumps!

Adam: Feel some emotional tear jerking moments coming on.

Emma: The BBC don’t half know how to put together a montage. SPOTY has already got me welling up!

"Every time he gets in the pool he makes history".

It was another golden year for Adam Peaty.

Adam Peaty wrote his name into the history books once again as he powered to 100m breaststroke gold in Tokyo to become the first British swimmer to defend an Olympic title.

It left Peaty with the 16 quickest times - this race was the fifth fastest - over the distance in history, and he remains the only swimmer to dip under 57 seconds with his 2019 world record.

He also played an instrumental role in Great Britain's historic mixed 4x100m medley relay victory and the silver claimed by the men's medley relay line-up.

As usual, the vote for Sports Personality of the Year will open after we've taken a closer look at each of the six contenders.

Shall we get started then?

First up is the man who won Team GB's first gold medal at Tokyo 2020.

Katie Falkingham
BBC Sport

We had to wait an extra year for the Olympic Games to come around, but Team GB and Tokyo delivered – and it was the boost we all needed.

Adam Peaty became the first British swimmer to defend an Olympic title while Max Whitlock was crowned the most successful gymnast on pommel horse with his second consecutive gold.

And who could forget the tears of Tom Daley on the podium, an Olympic gold medal finally around his neck after winning 10m synchro diving gold with Matty Lee.

Swimmer Duncan Scott became the first British athlete to win four medals in a single Games while Tom Dean won double gold on his Olympic debut – the videos of his family’s celebrations back home set to live long in the memory.

Image source, Getty Images

From in the water to on it, and Team GB ruled the waves as Hannah Mills became the most successful female sailor in Olympic history.

Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald won the first women’s Madison while Jason Kenny became GB’s most successful Olympian with his seventh gold medal in the keirin with an astonishing solo attack.

There was more success on two wheels outside of the velodrome, with Beth Shriever and Charlotte Worthington crowned BMX Olympic champions, while Sky Brown made us all feel very, very old by becoming Britain’s youngest Olympic medallist of all time with skateboarding bronze at the age of 13 years and 28 days.

Another Olympics done and dusted but thankfully we don’t have to wait long until the next one – the Winter Olympics in Beijing are just 47 days away. Get excited.

Image source, Getty Images

Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton picked up the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2020 after equalling Michael Schumacher's record of seven world titles with his fourth consecutive championship.

He finished ahead of England and Liverpool footballer Jordan Henderson, with jockey Hollie Doyle in third place.

You can take a look back at every SPOTY winner here.

That opening montage!

Chills.

David: There have, of course, been many great moments this year, but nothing comes close to Emma Raducanu's ace to win the 2021 US Open tennis.

BBC One

Coverage of BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2021 is just about to get started over on BBC One.

You can also watch by clicking on the icon at the top of this page.

Gary Lineker, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott are waiting for you!

A reminder that now is the time to make sure you're in a position to take part once the vote for BBC Sports Personality of the Year opens a little later on.

You need to register for a BBC account beforehand, if you haven't already got one.

To do that, follow this link HERE to register.

It only takes a few minutes.

We already know American gymnast Simone Biles has been honoured with this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year's Lifetime Achievement award.

Considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, the 24-year-old has won four Olympic gold medals and 19 World Championship titles.

We'll get to hear from her a little later on during the show but in the meantime you can read more here.

Image source, Getty Images