Andy Murray has now won SPOTY three times but will he win it again next year? Or can favourite Anthony Joshua claim the award?
After his achievements this year, Andy Murray was the clear favourite to win Sports Personality of the Year and few would argue against the world number one being the rightful winner.
In an Olympic year, the Scot fought off competition from a host of fellow Olympians including Alistair Brownlee, who finished second, and Nick Skelton, who beat Mo Farah to claim third place.
Murray's triumph on Sunday evening continued the pattern of a gold medal winning Olympian being crowned SPOTY in the same year following Steve Redgrave in 2000, Kelly Holmes in 2004, Chris Hoy in 2008 and Bradley Wiggins in 2012.
But next year is not an Olympic year, so who could be in the frame to win?
Anthony Joshua is the early favourite, at 9/4, and with a huge fight against Wladimir Klitschko lined up for April he could well become the sixth boxer to win SPOTY, ten years after Joe Calzaghe.
Unsurprisingly Murray is still expected to challenge again and is priced at 4/1 for what would be an astonishing fourth win.
Despite there being no Olympics next year, there are some big sporting events to look out for. The grueling America's Cup takes place in June and with Sir Ben Ainslie skippering the Land Rover BAR team, who have just won the America's Cup World Series, he looks like a very shrewd bet at 12/1 to land the award.
Elsewhere, an F1 title for Lewis Hamilton should see him be in contention while the Athletics World Championships could be pivotal. The event will be held in London and there is sure to be a buzz around what will be Usain Bolt's farewell to the sport. Mo Farah is currently 14/1 to win SPOTY but his fourth placed finish this year suggests he may not be all that popular with the public despite a double gold winning year. Athletes Dina Asher-Smith (40/1), Greg Rutherford (50/1) and Katarina Johnson Thompson (50/1) could well be worth looking into.
Chris Froome's omission from the shortlist this year caused outrage and if he were to impress in the saddle again next year, he is likely to receive a lot of support off the back of this year. He is considered a 16/1 chance with Ladbrokes while Coral have him at 33/1.
In a big year for Rugby, with the Six Nations in February and The British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in June, there is a strong chance either side will claim team of the year while Owen Farrell is a 55/1 shot to win the main prize.
There are plenty of possible contenders to take the crown away from Murray but it is hard to see anyone doing so if next year is equally impressive for the Scot as 2016 was.
