We take a look at some of the biggest winners from 2008 and do our best to cut it down to the ten best performances for this remarkable year in the world of sport.

So competitive is this year's list that the likes of Dale Steyn, Cristiano Ronaldo and Joe Calzagne, all of whom had fantastic years, fail to even make the top ten. We do somehow though find space for three of the stars from the massively memorable Beijing Olympics, the youngest ever F1 champion and the Euro 2008 Champions.

Usain Bolt:

The Lightning Bolt struck with a vengeance at the Olympic Games in Beijing this year. Anyone who witnessed his awesome performance at the Bird's Nest will not soon forget the sight of the long-legged Jamaican simply cruising to a new 100m world record on the grandest stage of them all. Add to that his gold medals for the 200m as well as the relay, Bolt has rightly been honoured as the IAAF Men's Athlete of the year, and deserves his place on any winners list.

The Sharks:

After coming so close on a number of occasions over the last decade the Natal side finally got themselves back on top of the domestic rugby mountain in 2008. Without a doubt the best team in the competition, throughout the year, John Plumtree and his Sharks side have already picked up a number of awards for their great performance. With four nominations for Player of the Year, wins for Ryan Kankowski and Jean Deysel in the best player categories for the Super 14 and Currie Cup, respectively, 2008 has definitely been the year of the Shark.

Lewis Hamilton:

Without a doubt the most dramatic Formula One season ever came down to the final corner, of the final lap, of the final Grand Prix in Brazil. At the end of it all though Hamilton emerged as the youngest ever F1 champion and wrote his name into motorsport legend. At just 23 years old, Hamilton fended off the challenges of, Ferrari duo, Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen to claim his first world championship and ensure that he had a 2008 that he will not soon forget!

Rafa Nadal:

Having flirted with the idea for sometime, Rafael Nadal finally took the World number one spot in the ATP rankings from Roger Federer. After claiming his fourth consecutive French Open title and then beating 'the Fed' on his own turf in a classic Wimbledon final, Nadal is now set to become the first Spaniard in the open era to finish the year at number one. The powerful Nadal certainly proved this year that he is the complete tennis player and was indeed the man to rival, and replace, Roger Federer as the standard-bearer for world tennis.

Lorena Ochoa:

The 27-year-old Mexican sensation has firmly established herself as the World's best female golfer over the last couple of years. Ranked number one in the world, with more than twice the tour points of any other player, Ochoa has earned $2 763 193 from just 20 events in 2008, having won a remarkable seven of those tournaments. Without a doubt the best at what she does in 2008.

Michael Phelps:

What is there to say about this phenomenon that has not already been said? A record number of eight Olympic gold medals in Beijing — he certainly lived up to all the expectations and has left a mark in the history books which will not be outdone anytime soon. Still just 23-years-old, Phelps holds seven World records, all of which were set at the Olympic Games. Truly a phenomenally scary athletic machine!

Padraig Harrington:

With the absence of Tiger Woods for much of the year the world of golf seemed somewhat lost. Harrington though was certainly not. The Irishman showed just what a class act he is in 2008 by first defending his 2007 Open Championship title, with a four stroke win at Royal Birkdale, and then by also adding a second major win for the year at the US PGA championship in August.

The Proteas:

With the Australian series still to come it may be a little premature to be talking of the great year that has been, but Graeme Smith and his men have really impressed thus far in 2008. With Test series wins over New Zealand, India and England, South African players dominate all the leading lists in world cricket at the moment. With Smith and fast bowler Steyn (who, yes, deserves his own spot on the list) the pick of the stars this year, the Proteas have been set up perfectly for their assault on Ricky Ponting's Australian side.

Spain football team:

The Euro 2008 Champions, it would be wrong not to include the Spanish side on this list. While Greece were considered somewhat fortunate to walk away with the trophy four years earlier Luis Aragonés Spanish side were certainly the best side on show in Austria and Switzerland. With David Villa and Xavi Hernandes, particularly, in good form, 2008 finally saw the underperforming Spanish national side earn some international success.

Yelena Isinbayeva:

Our third winner from the Beijing Olympics, Isinbayeva continued her dominance of the women's Pole Vault with another spectacular year worth of effort. As if writing her own script the Russian superstar successfully defended her Gold medal from the Athens Olympics with her final, world record beating vault at the Bird's Nest in Beijing. Named IAAF Women's Athlete of the year for the third time, the superstar athlete has certainly secured her place in history with her performances in 2008.

  • Who were your best performers in 2008? Leave a comment below!


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