Aussies Ash Barty and Emma McKeon shortlisted for global Sportswoman of the Year accolade

Ash Barty and Emma McKeon, the Australian superstars who lit up international sport in 2021, will now go head-to-head for a global sports prize.

Both Barty, the world's leading women's tennis player who has just captured the Australian Open singles crown, and McKeon, the record-breaking Olympic swimming champ, have been nominated for the prestigious Laureus 2022 Sportswoman of the Year accolade.

Meanwhile, emphasising what a breakthrough year it was for Australian sportswomen, another Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus has been shortlisted for the Breakthrough of the Year award in world sport's annual «Oscars».

Barty or McKeon could become the first Australian athlete since Cathy Freeman to win the award after Wednesday's unveiling of shortlists.

Freeman took the honour in 2001 after her heroic performance at the previous year's Sydney Olympics, where she won the 400 metres at her home Games. In Freeman's award-winning year, golfer Karrie Webb was also shortlisted for the gong.

Barty is being recognised for her stellar 2021 campaign in which she comfortably retained her place as world number one while also taking the Wimbledon crown among five victories around the world.

The 27-year-old freestyle maestro McKeon took four gold and three bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, tying gymnast Maria Gorokhovskaya for most medals ever won by a woman in a single Games.

But Barty and McKeon, though, face tough competition for the award from Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah, the triple sprint champion in Tokyo, American track legend Allyson Felix, US swimming superstar Katie Ledecky and Spain's Ballon d'Or-winning footballer Alexia Putellas.

The newly-retired Tom Brady will doubtless be a sentimental favourite to win the equivalent men's