LUKE LITTLER has been nominated for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award.
The talented young athlete has made significant strides this year, quickly advancing in the global rankings while earning widespread national acclaim.
Littler is now one of the top three contenders for this prestigious honor, competing against Olympic bronze medalist in skateboarding, Sky Brown, 16, and Paralympic swimmer William Ellard, 18.
Other nominees include talented youngsters such as Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri, along with Mia Brookes (snowboarding), Cat Ferguson (cycling), Phoebe Gill (athletics), Abigail Martin (gymnastics), Bly Twomey (para-table tennis), and Iona Winnifrith (para-swimming).
Littler’s rapid rise in the sport has him excited about his nomination.
He mentioned, “This year has been unbelievable, and being nominated for Young Sports Personality of the Year is just the cherry on top.”
“If I’ve inspired more people to get into darts, then I’ve achieved my goal.”
Greg James, BBC Radio 1 Breakfast presenter, remarked: “All three of these young athletes are on the path to becoming household names, and since they are just starting their careers, don’t be surprised if they make a significant impact in the world of sports.”
Littler began the year ranked 164th globally and has impressively climbed to fourth place.
At just 17 years old, he competed in the World Darts Championship finals and achieved victory in the Premier League Darts during his debut.
Luke Littler Prize Money Summary
Here’s an overview of the prize money Luke Littler has accumulated following his Grand Slam of Darts success:
World Championship 2023 – £200,000
Grand Slam of Darts 2024 – £150,000
European Tour – £91,000
Player Championships events – £71,500
UK Open 2023 + 2024 – £17,500
World Matchplay – £10,000
World Grand Prix – £7,500
European Championship – £7,500
(Unranked) Premier League Darts – £315,000
Littler also secured his first major title by winning the Grand Slam of Darts, making him an oche millionaire this year.
Additionally, he is a contender for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and currently stands as the second favorite according to bookmakers.
He faces stiff competition for this title from Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson.