[Closed] SPOTY - Martyn Ashton

Totally, I'd vote for that. Rachel Atherton too. But they're just not in the mainstream medias consciousness and so aren't promoted to the public.

Also, with all due respect to Martyn, who is undoubtably a hero, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of similar stories strewn throughout the Paralympics, which is much more in the public consciousness, and no less deserving.

I can't think of anyone who deserves it more than Martyn Ashton. His positive attitude to bikes, his career, his injury and everything that's followed is a genuine inspiration. He always has been since I first saw him in the old MBUK vids (personality doesn't come across as well in print!)

Edit: he'd be my pick, anyway - as mikey says, there will be others I won't have heard of, just as many won't have heard of Ashton.

What Martyn did through his riding career was amazing and his attitude since his accident is inspirational.

Being harsh he is not a sportsperson as such and never was. I think if he focuses on charity fundraising and showing other disabled people what you can achieve then I could see him winning an MBE or similar,

never was

Not harsh, just inaccurate. Unless you want to propose a special definition of sportsperson?

Sadly if you haven't won a gold medal & a mainstream competition (wimbledon for example) you don't have a chance

SPOTY is irrelevant, why anyone gets angry/annoyed/excited about it is bemusing.

SPOTY is irrelevant, why anyone gets angry/annoyed/excited about it is bemusing.

just showed me a pick of Martyn and a wee dug that had obviously lost its legs. Now im knida half pished

You don't nominate someone for it. A panel of "experts" draws up the shortlist and the public then vote.

Would be great for Rachel to be on that shortlist though. She'd never win, but the exposure would be terrific for her and that side of the sport.

You can't really be SPOTY if 99.99% of people have never heard of you though can you.

I dunno. Andy Murray has won it twice without a personality...

No but what they can do is make an impact and inform the general public. Red Bull's coverage is putting stuff up there for people. Gee Atherton was on Danny Bakers Red Sauce/Brown Sauce game. Rachel was on BBC Breakfast last week. Martyn Ashtons Road Bike party was getting social medial shares outside of bike people, Danny MAc's Skye and C4 vids along with his imaginate one got wider coverage.
A slot on SPOTY with Marty/Steve Peat/Rachel showcasing their stuff for 5 mins would be wonderful.
A few years back local news were turning up to the DH nationals etc. Ft William world cup has massive attendances for a one off event and much more.

[quote=matts ]I dunno. Andy Murray has won it twice without a personality...

Bingo!

This year, no chance. A non-paralympic year? Maybe:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Sports_Personality_of_the_Year_Helen_Rollason_Award

Not harsh, just inaccurate. Unless you want to propose a special definition of sportsperson?

I am using the BBC's interpretation. He was not a sportsman in their sense and certainly isn't now in their sense. Same as Danny Mac, outstandingly talented rider but not a sportsperson in the BBC's SPOTY sense. Rachel is.

He was a sportsperson in the same sense that a ballet dancer is a sportsperson 😈

He was not a sportsman in their sense and certainly isn't now in their sense.

Martyn Ashton (born 2 December 1974)[1] is a former British and World Champion[2] mountain bike trials rider, stunt rider and team manager. He had been riding professional trials since 1993[3] and is often described as a mountain biking legend.[4][5] He has been credited with turning trials from a niche form of riding into the sport it is today.[6] Ashton was paralysed in an accident in 2013, during a bike trials demo at the British Moto GP.[7]

Wasnt shauna coxsey nominated for SPOTY last year (Or the year before, i forget)for bouldering. Shows that the less popular sports can get nominated. Dont really think Ashton is an appropriate vote but i definately see the case for Rachel Atherton.