Front-runners

Since 1954, Sports Illustrated has faced the annual challenge of choosing its Sportsman of the Year. The award is bestowed upon the person or persons who symbolize in character and performance the ideals of sportsmanship. Here are a batch of athletes who have had dominant performances this year. Click on any image below to check out their athlete pages, complete with photo galleries, feature stories and video clips. And be sure to browse the Sportsman archive and covers galleries. This year's Sportsman of the Year will be revealed in the Dec. 17 issue of Sports Illustrated and celebrated on Sports Illustrated's Night of Champions television special, broadcast Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. on NBC. For ticket information, call 213-236-2354.

 
Photographs by Simon Bruty, Manny Millan (2), David E. Klutho, Bob Martin, John W. McDonough