JON Anderson counts down the top performers from the sporting world. Who took out No.1 and have your say.
1: Adam Scott (golf)
He did what no other Australian has been able to do in winning the US Masters at Augusta. He then added another US PGA tour win by taking The Barclays and claimed the PGA Grand Slam of Golf played between the four winners of the majors in 2013. Returning home he won the Australian Masters, Australian PGA and teamed with Jason Day to claim the World Cup.
2: Mick Fanning (surfing)
The 32-year-old known as "White Lightning" added a third ASP World Championship in dramatic fashion at Pipeline to the titles he won in 2007 and 2009. It came through a run of extreme consistency that saw him place top five in eight events and keep the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) in Kelly Slater at bay.
3: Michael Clarke (cricket)
With 1077 runs (prior to the Boxing Day Test) and four centuries in 12 Tests at 48.95, he remains one of the finest batsmen in the game. More importantly two of those centuries were vital components in Australia regaining the Ashes.
4: Israel Folau (rugby union)
Went from a unremarkable AFL player to the most destructive back in World rugby. Big Izzy equalled Lote Tuqiri's record of 10 tries in a season for the Wallabies and added a further eight for the Waratahs. And at 24 it would seem the best is still to come.
5: Johnathan Thurston (rugby league)
Man of the match for Australia's in its World Cup victory over England (and man of the series) and a crucial component at five-eight for Queensland in beating NSW in the State of Origin. The one-time supermarket butcher's assistant is at the peak of his powers.
6: Gary Ablett (AFL)
In a career that keeps adding superlatives, Ablett won his second Brownlow medal, fifth club best and fairest, fifth AFLPA MVP, and seventh straight All-Australian selection. He is far and away the most consistently brilliant player of the past decade in the AFL.
7: Cate Campbell (swimming)
The 186cm Malawi-born Campbell was prolific at the 2013 World Swimming Championships in Barcelona, winning gold in the 100m freestyle and silvers in the 50m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay.
8: Jamie Whincup (V8 Supercars)
In winning his fifth his fifth title, Whincup propelled himself into legendary status. He won 11 of 34 races including three of four held for the first time in the US. And at just 30 there is no reason why Whincup won't surpass Ian Geoghegan, Dick Johnson and Mark Skaife by winning a sixth championship.
9: Mirinda Carfrae (ironman)
Carfrae set a course record when winning the gruelling World Ironman World Championship at Kona, Hawaii in 2013 with a time of 8:52:14. Additionally, at that race she set a women's record time for the run portion of the course at 2:50:38.
10: Tim Cahill (soccer)
At 34 it looked as if his best may be behind him but Cahill thought otherwise, going on a goalscoring spree for the New York Red Bulls in the competitive US league and scoring twice for the Socceroos to take his national tally to a record 29 goals from 64 matches.
11: Christian Sprenger (swimming)
At 28 is in the form of his life, winning gold in the 100m breathstroke at the World Swimming Championships and silver in the 50m breaststroke and 4x100m medley relay. The 196cm Sprenger is hoping to reach the 2016 Olympics.
12: Caroline Buchanan (BMX)
The 23-year-old known as "Cannonball" put the disappointment of the 2012 London Olympics behind her to dominate her chosen field, winning the UC World Four Cross Championships in Austria and the UCI BMX World Championships in New Zealand.
13: James Spithill (sailing)
At just 33, Sydney-born Jimmy Spithill is rapidly building a CV the equal of few. In 2010 he became the youngest ever skipper to win the America's Cup (BMW Oracle Racing). Defending the title in 2013 aboard Oracle Team USA, Spithill and his team came from 8-1 down to win 9-8 against Emirates Team New Zealand.
14: Andrew Bogut (basketball)
Helped take the Golden State Warriors to the NBA Western Conference semi-finals where they were narrow losers to eventual runners-up San Antonio. The Essendon Football Club fanatic produced 21 rebounds and 14 points in a game against the LA Lakers.
15: Anna Meares (cycling)
The 30-year-old from Blackwater in Queensland broke her own 500m time-trial world record at a World Cup meeting in the high altitude of Mexico. In doing so she became the first woman to go under 33 seconds.
16: Renae Hallinan (netball)
Dropped from the national team two seasons ago, the 180cm wing defence came storming back, winning the Liz Ellis Diamond (for best Australian player) and International Player of the Year. She played every game in the Adelaide Thunderbirds' premiership year and all 10 matches for the Diamonds.
17: Madonna Blyth (hockey)
Hockeyroos captain Blyth, 28, had a blinder of a season, being beaten by the great Luciana Aymar for the International Hockey Federation's Player of the Year. Blyth led the Hockeyroos to gold at both the Oceania Cup and Investec World League Semi-Final Tournament.
18: Damien Oliver (horse racing)
For much of 2013 he watched on from the sidelines after being banned for 10 months for betting on a rival horse. At 41 he came charging back, riding winners at will before claiming a third Melbourne Cup aboard Fiorente for his 98th Group 1 victory.
19: Kim Crow (rowing)
Following on from silver and bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, Crow, 28, took gold in the single sculls at the World Championships in Chungju, powering to the lead at the 300m mark and holding it to the line.
20: Will Tomlinson (boxing)
"Wild Will" successfully defended his IBO Super Featherweight against a skilled South African craftsman in Malcolm Klassen at the Melbourne Pavilion in May. It was a serious fight, the most testing of Bairnsdale-born Tomlinson's career and he came through it with a clear points win.
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