The Greatest British Sportspeople 60-51

60. Denise Lewis (Athletics, 1990s-2000s)

 There's an argument that the multi-eventers are not the greatest athletes, that they're jacks of all trade, but I don't really go for that. Versatility is to be highly prized and the hep and decathletes really do put themselves through more physically than any other competitors. It's always a great, epic competition over two days and Denise Lewis was a champion over many years, winning Olympic bronze in 1996 and gold in 2000.

59. Paul Gascoigne (Football, 1980s-1990s)

 I dithered considerably about this chap's placing, even thinking about leaving him out all together. What a waste, what a failure to achieve what he might have done. His club career was generally pretty wretched - great at Newcastle, a couple of golden years at Spurs then disaster, loved but mainly injured at Lazio, fine at the second rate level with Rangers, then various disastrous spells at English clubs. And so many injuries, and so many disasters.
But the only two times the England team has come close to mattering in the last 40 years is down to him. He was brilliant in 1990, intermittently brilliant in 96, and deserved to drive England to the final of both tournaments. It's horrible and tempting to speculate that if the coin had been tossed the other way on two incidents (the yellow card tackle in 1990, without which Gascoigne would surely have taken a penalty) and the far post miss in 1996 (oh jesus, i still remember the noise in the packed pub I was in when that happened)everything would have been different for the footballing history of the nation and, more poignantly, for the life of the individual. Who knows? It's all so terribly sad. He was a brilliant footballer. As a Spurs fan in the 1990-91 season, he really was.

58. Steve Davis (Snooker, 1970s-2010s)

 Did you know that Steve Davis has been in the top 3 for Sports Personality of the Year more than anyone else? And that his 1985 final against Dennis Taylor is BBC2's most watched broadcast ever. So, he was a really big star. Either the greatest or second greatest player of all, with six World Championships, perhaps Davis's most impressive achievement has been to hang around in the top 32 or so for many, many years after his prime, still capable of giving anyone a fight.
I love snooker, and though there have been more explosive players, Davis is snooker's Dalai Lama, it's eminence gris, timelessly wise and canny. One of the very best sportsperson-turned-broadcasters, as well.

57. Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean (Ice Dancing, 1980s-1990s)

The BBC didn't separate them in 1984 when they jointly won Sports Personality of the Year, so nor shall I. They are ranked so high because they achieved perfection in their field, because they provided an extremely famous moment, because they came back 8 years later and were still really good, because they're not to be confused with Pearl and Dean or Jan and Dean.

56. Sean Kerly (Hockey, 1980-1990s)

  I'm a bit taken back by this chap's high position, but I'm sticking with it. Hockey is a sport of underrated excitement and global reach - it's a big deal in a lot of countries. And GB has rarely been that great at it, but they secured bronze in 1984 and gold in 1988, and this guy was the Geoff Hurst of it all, a rampant, unstoppable goal scorer.

55. Harry Vardon (Golf, 1890s-1920s)

 The big don of early 20th century golf, he not only won the Open a record six times, he also went and won the US Open. The grip he popularised became used throughout golf. The WG Grace of the game.

54. Ashley Cole (Football, 1990s-2010s)

Hmm, people might not like this, but there we go. Unquestionably the best England player of his generation, the only player who has consistently done his job for the national team whatever the circumstances, a consummate defender. Has has huge success at club level, won three Premier Leagues, a Champions League and won the FA Cup more than any other player. Deserves some respect. Can't cross, though. Just watch him. He can't cross. It's odd.

53. Wilfred Rhodes (Cricket, 1890s-1930s)

Back in the day, they used to be play a loooot of cricket, and no one played more than Wilfred Rhodes. Literally. Look how spectacularly long his career was - the first great all-rounder of test cricket, who turned himself from a Number 11 bat into an opener, and took more first class wickets than anyone else ever, over 4000. The oldest person ever to play test cricket, and he lived to be 95. One of the legends of cricket.

52. Mary Rand (Athletics, 1950s-1960s)

The first British woman to win individual Olympic track and field gold, she won the 1964 long jump in a huge world record which would still be pretty good to this day. In the same Olympics she won silver in the pentathlon (behind a questionable athlete) and bronze in the relay. Was also excellent at the high jump and held the triple jump world record (when women didn't do triple jump in the Olympics) for decades.

51. Mo Farah (Athletics, 2000s)

 I've been telling people for years how uniquely, exhaustingly involving watching a great long distance race is, and Mo Farah showed that twice in exquisite detail in 2012 (not to mention 2010 and 2011). The way he took himself to the US to raise his level, his desperation to be the best, and the quite unbelievable strength and speed of his running have made him a national hero. Has already achieved far more than any other British long distance runner ever, and there could be more wonders to come. I really look forward to him taking on the marathon in a year or two.