Inspirational sailor Hilary Lister has been nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

The quadriplegic from Dunkirk could join other A list sports heroes who have been honoured with the accolade, including last year's winner, Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy, world champion boxer Joe Calzaghe, and the 2006 winner, equestrian Zara Phillips.

This year’s awards night will take place on December 13 in Sheffield.

Lister (pictured left) received a nomination following her latest world record, when she became the first-ever disabled woman to sail solo around Great Britain.

Her other achievements include becoming the first quadriplegic person to sail solo across the English Channel and becoming the first female quadriplegic to circumnavigate the Isle of Wight.

These feats of strength and perseverance will feature in the 37-year-old’s autobiography, which she is currently compiling.

Lister is no stranger to honours and has achieved several accolades, among them Woman of Achievement from disabled charity Vitalise. She is also flying out to Korea on November 7 after being shortlisted for the World Sailor of the Year award.

"To even be nominated is a real honour for me," she said. "It is incredibly mind boggling. I almost fell out of my chair when I heard.

"Every time I get nominated for anything I am always gobsmacked and when I see the other people in the category it hits home how small my achievements are.

"To be alongside my heroes doesn’t seem right but the awards that recognise my sporting achievements always mean a lot."

She added: "I get incredibly nervous about the awards events and I’m always worried that I won’t say the right thing.

"Being up in front of lots of people is a big contrast to what I do. I enjoy being in a boat alone on the open water."