Jamie Vardy: BBC Sports Personality 2016 contender

We are showcasing each of the 16 contenders in the run-up to the Sports Personality of the Year award on 18 December. Today - Jamie Vardy and Dame Sarah Storey.

Year in a nutshell

His goalscoring exploits helped 5,000-1 outsiders Leicester City to become Premier League champions. The Foxes have gone on to reach the Champions League knockout stage.

Vardy was voted player of the year by the Football Writers' Association as he scored 24 league goals last season, including in a record 11 consecutive matches.

Just four years after signing from then non-league side Fleetwood Town, he made the Ballon d'Or award shortlist for the world's best player.

How did he get here?

From non-league to Champions League, Vardy's rise is quite a story,

After being released by Sheffield Wednesday at 16, he played for Stocksbridge Park Steels, Halifax Town and then Fleetwood Town, where 31 goals in a season attracted the interest of Leicester City.

He joined the Foxes, then in the Championship, before the 2012-13 campaign but considered quitting the club after a loss of form.

Vardy was persuaded to stay, helped Leicester win the title the following season and featured regularly in their first year back in the top-flight.

Few could have predicted what happened next. Vardy's scoring run, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy's record, helped propel him into the England side and his club to a shock Premier League triumph.

He won the Barclays Premier League Player of the Season award and scored for England against Wales at Euro 2016.

What he said: "It's the biggest achievement in the history of a great club and we all feel privileged to be part of it."

What you say

Aaron Fenton: "The man helped lead his team to a once in a lifetime victory. Give him the credit he deserves."

Vinnie Smith: "Got to be Jamie Vardy, what he and Leicester achieved is far more superior to an Olympic gold medal."

Neil Richards: "Jamie Vardy for me. Football writers' player of the season, Premiership champion, goalscoring record. All for Leicester City. Amazing."

Sports Personality record: First nomination. The award has been won five times by footballers (Bobby Moore 1966, Paul Gascoigne 1990, Michael Owen 1998, David Beckham 2001, Ryan Giggs 2009)

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