Considering the street cred sailing has, compared to cricket or most team sports, second (again!) is a great achievement!

But honestly... does she really need gongs and PR exercises to know she's the best?

(yep, her sponsors might have like it, very true)

It's not that she needs it but should she not be recognised for what she has achieved in her (young) life.Being honest I don't think she takes any notice of it but....

I'm not sure but isn't she a hero in France? yet back here?

But isn't twice coming 2nd in a public poll as close to  heroine status as a sailor is ever likely to get?

There are plenty of sports people out there doing admirable things - those that are televised inevitably do best in polls. So despite comparitively little TV exposure Ellens brilliant acheivements have obviously been projected into the publics consciousness better than all but one of the miriad of televised sports people. Well done Dame Ellen

Shock-horror probe: Dame Ellen is a junkie. Or would that be "heroine status"? 

The only Ellen will win it is if none of the main stream sports produce someone who has a small chance of getting it.

Im loathed to put my views forward here as Im fast getting a reputation as anti Ellen...... which couldn't be further from the truth. I am, I hope however, depressingly objective.

Ellen has achieved a few things within our sport, and this has made her more famous among the greater public that most other people who have achieved a few things in our sport. I'm not knocking what she has done, just pointing out that others commit their lives to mounting a yacht based goal, and go unheard of by the greater public.

Now what we need to appreciate, is that the BBC sports personality of the year is the view of the British public. They may be swayable by media, they may prefer football and beach volleyball, but that is up to them, not you. To that end, the award shows how well known the winner in question is, and has little relation to the magnitude of their achievements.

The fact she came second points to her familiarity, rather than her personality, which is as far removed from sport as can be. Keep crying people, the question you should be asking is' BBC award'! WHO cares???

Well, errr maybe her sponsors?

I believe if Ellen had finished her awesome record a few weeks ago and the hype was still immense, she would of almost definately won the award. The personality of the year award is slightly fake and the public will always remember the biggest, most recent event which was the ashes series.

Also even though Ellen has probably put her self through much more demanding situations than Freddie Flintoff, the award is settled by people ringing in and voting. There is not enough sailors to vote and beat a member of a sport as popular as cricket, although i was fairly suprised that Gerrard didn't win an award becuase im sure loadsa football fans voted him in after the champions league.

I think it is more of a popularity contest really; and if Ellen is popular that can only help our sport ... good on her I say.

Rick

I certainly think Ellen deserved the award. She has to cope withh massive waves and gales in the southern ocean, non-stop. Whereas Flintoff goes for a high tea or whatever every hour for tea and scones, A-and goes home if it starts drizzling.

Oh dear I've just demonstrated a totalty warped perspective of cricket, the type of stereotype sailing has had to endure for years

But I still think Freddy Flintoff didn't win the ashes England did, but Ellen herself holds the Solo round the world record.

Out of interest.

How many of you voted??

I did.

I care - but not enough to vote!

BTW yes it should have been heroine but serves me right for not copying the previous post that changed her sex to hero - without comment.

Jeffers said

"Do we honestly mind if our (relatively) minority sport produced someone who has captured enough hearts to place her second behind someone who is potentially one of the best all round cricket players this country has produced? I certainly don't!"

Pretty much what I was trying to say: i.e. Regardless of how well we sailors rank her acheivements (personally I rank them at the highest level) we should be pleased that a public poll rates a sailor - any sailor -  above all but one other sports person.

Maybe my perspective is warped because up here in the North, she was hardly on the telly at all - except breifly when she finished. Hardly enough to lodge her onto the psyche of the public in Barnsley! Was the coverage better down south?

Actually footballers rarely win - not because football isn't popular, but because its so 'tribal'. For instance, Gerrard - a Liverpool player will struggle to get many votes from any London club supporters and probably didn't get a  single one from Manchester Utd fans. The exception is when England do really well - then the tribe instinct gets overtaken by the nationalistic fervour and they'll vote for the hero of the day  - Beckham, Owen etc.

I voted, but I voted for Freddie.

I don't know how many people here play or played cricket as well as being a sailor. However I do. Maybe I can add a little objectivity to this debate:

Ellen's acheivements are monumental. In terms of mentalt strength and determination she is nothing short of incredible and her high profile does wonders for the sport.

Freddie Flintoff's acheivement should never be underestimated. Yes, the England team won the ashes but without Flintoff they would have lost. There is no other player in cricket who can run in and bowl at nearly 90mph and then pick up a bat and hit one of the greatest bowling attacks in the history of the game, all over the park. Add to this, he is one of the best slip fielders in the game. Beyond his sporting ability, he is a great sportsman and the way he acts both on and off the field should be a lesson to all aspiring sports people.

Both Ellen and Freddie have transcended their sport and both carry themselves in a manner which makes us proud of them as a nation. Whilst both are incredible people, Flintoff is the bigger personality and personally, I believe his acheivement is the greater. Which is why my vote went to him.