STOCKTON skier Lee-Steve Jackson has been named as one of the British Olympic Association’s 30 Athletes of the Year.

The gongs, which were introduced in 2005, sees the BOA select a stand-out performer from each Olympic discipline, and Jackson has been chosen to represent biathlon.

The 28-year-old Teessider came home 55th in the men’s 10km sprint at this year’s Winter Olympics in Vancouver, equalling his best-ever finish in an Olympic or World Cup event.

Jackson, who serves as a Lance-Corporal with the 2nd Battalion, Two Rifles, also finished 56th in the men’s 12.5km pursuit and 66th in the men’s 20km individual event in Canada.

Rebecca Adlington and Mo Farah were also among the list of recipients announced yesterday.

Olympic swimming heroine Adlington repeated her Beijing success by taking double Commonwealth gold in Delhi in October, while she also won the 400 metres freestyle at the European Championships.

Adlington pipped diver Tom Daley, who also won two golds at the Commonwealth Games, and other leading names in swimming such as Fran Halsall and Hannah Miley to win the aquatics award.

In athletics, Farah was picked ahead of heptathlon number one Jessica Ennis after his double over 5,000m and 10,000m at the European Championships in Barcelona.

The cycling award went to a road athlete, with Emma Pooley rewarded for a stunning year capped by victory in the women’s time trial at the World Championship.

Beth Tweddle proved her class in gymnastics once again by reclaiming her world title on the uneven bars and collecting two golds at European level, on the bars and floor.

The 25-year-old said: “I’m really happy to win this award, in what has been a outstanding year for British Gymnastics. Becoming world champion for the third time in my career in 2010 has given me great confidence towards my aim of reaching the podium at the London 2012 Olympic Games.”

Other notable winners included equestrian star Laura Bechtolsheimer, hockey player Helen Richardson, Youth Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones and world under-23 triathlon champion Jonny Brownlee.