At the highest levels of athletic competition, there were many moments of extraordinary triumph. Spain won the World Cup, soccer's premier tournament, but South Africa won kudos for successfully hosting the event, the first time an African nation has held that honor.
For many, the Super Bowl victory by the New Orleans Saints, the first in the NFL team's 43-year history, offered the most inspiring sports story of the year. The team emerged as a symbol of recovery and was credited for uniting a city riven by racial strife and battered five years before by hurricane Katrina. Quarterback Drew Brees was named "Sportsman of the Year" by the Sports Illustrated for his on- and off-field leadership.
In tennis, Rafael Nadal walked away with three of the four Grand Slams, the first man to achieve this since Rod Laver in 1969, and the first to do it on three different surfaces. But for three days, the world stood transfixed as John Isner of the US and Nicolas Mahut of France exchanged aces at Wimbledon in the longest tennis match ever played. All told, the two were on the court for 11 hours, 5 minutes. Three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe left the broadcasting booth and grabbed a seat in the third row at Court 18 to watch: "It's Herculean what they're doing. ... I had to come pay my respects." When it was finally over, Isner won 70-68.
In November, Manny Pacquiao, became the first boxer to win world titles in eight different weight divisions when he beat Mexico's Antonio Margarito to take the WBC light-middleweight title. For this amazing record, the Boxing Writers Association of America named Pacquiao "Fighter of the Decade." In addition to boxing, he also furthered his career in acting, music, and got elected to the Philippines' House of Representatives in 2010.
And yet, our sentimental pick for the 2010 most triumphant sports moment goes to a Canadian figure skater at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Joannie Rochette snatched a bronze medal, but won the hearts of millions when she took to the ice after her mom – "my biggest fan and my best friend" – suddenly died just days before her performance. She became a global symbol of poise and courage.
"She won gold for us – not just for Canada but for the whole world. She shared with us what courage is,” said Janis D’andrea, a Canadian who was in the stands during Rochette's performance. “She really felt our love strong…. And even though her mother is gone, she’s still with her.”
