TIM Stephens hopes to cap a fine 12 months tomorrow night – but he is fully aware that getting the better of a three-time Olympic champion will prove extremely difficult.

The Oxford City AC decathlete, from Headington, is in the running to land the sportsman of the year accolade at the Oxfordshire Sports Awards.

But the 18-year-old will have to see off rower Andy Triggs Hodge, who won his third gold medal in Rio, and hip-hop dancer Kyron Anthony at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium.

Stephens has enjoyed a stellar year, winning the English Schools and South of England titles, as well as being No 4 in the under 20 rankings.

Another award would be the icing on the cake, but he is under no illusions of the strong competition.

“It was a big surprise when I found out I’d been nominated and was up against people who have won Olympic medals and world titles,” said Stephens, who is studying maths at Bath University.

“This year has got to be up there as one of the best, if not the best, with being in the top ten, I have not done that before, and winning the English Schools was great.

“The southern title as well was nice.

“I am not expecting anything, but if I was to win it would round off what has been a really great year.”

Triggs Hodge is no stranger to the award, having won it in 2012.

The 37-year-old, from Checkendon, marked his last Games with a third gold medal in August.

Now retired and given an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list, Triggs Hodge is flattered to be shortlisted once again.

He said: “I started rowing because I was good at it, I enjoyed it and I wanted to see what I could do in the sport, so it is a selfish thing.

“You start to realise people invest emotion in your success and you have more of an influence.

“That is epitomised when people actually award you with something.

“I never go out to get these awards, I didn’t start rowing because I thought I will win something, but it is very rewarding.”

Team GB dancer Anthony has been making waves of his own.

The 18-year-old, from Blackbird Leys, retained his Solo University world title at the IDO World Hip Hop Championships in Austria.

Anthony, who trains at KCs School of Dance, Oxford, and studies dance at the University of East London, said the nomination alone was a “big achievement”.

He added: “It was a bit weird being nominated because people don’t class it as a sport and who I am up against is an honour.”

“It is a shock, it’s great to see my style of dance getting recognised and all the hard work going into it is going somewhere.”