Heroes to remember in a year to forget
2
020 has been a tumultuous year for sport, with the coronavirus pandemic disrupting competitions, hitting revenues and forcing events around the globe to be staged behind closed doors.
Even the most pampered stars were not immune to this once-ina-generation crisis – which may explain why we’ve seen so much brattish behaviour over the past
12 months.
Yet for every prima donna throwing their toys out the pram, there was an athlete who tore up the record books, or used their platform to promote worthy causes.
Here are Stuff’s five sporting heroes of 2020.
Israel Adesanya: taking over the UFC
This was the year Israel Adesanya cemented his status as New Zealand’s biggest sporting export.
The charismatic KiwiNigerian made two successful defences of his UFC middleweight title, extending his unbeaten streak in the octagon to 20 fights.
After copping plenty of flak for his lacklustre showing against Yoel Romero in March, Adesanya made up for it six months later when he destroyed Paulo Costa inside two rounds.
The unbeaten Brazilian was meant to be his toughest challenge to date yet proved no match for the ruthless champion, whose dominant win led UFC president Dana White to mark him out as the sport’s ‘‘next big superstar’’.
In a sign of his growing clout, ‘The Last Stylebender’ banked a cool $1 million for less than nine minutes’ work. But he refused to let his newfound wealth and fame go to his head, selflessly giving up his first-class seat on the plane back from Abu Dhabi to one of his trainers. Never change, Izzy.
What he said: ‘‘I had to make y’all remember and I had to remind the world why. We the best!’’
Naomi Osaka: putting racism in the spotlight
There’s more to Naomi Osaka than winning tennis majors, as she showed at the US Open in September.
The world No 3 clinched her third grand slam title and second at Flushing Meadows after a gritty win over Victoria Azarenka in the final. But it was her decision to wear masks with the names of black victims of police violence on them that set her apart from her peers.
With millions of tennis fans tuning in to her matches, Osaka understood her actions would raise awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement sweeping the globe at the time.
‘‘I’m aware that tennis is watched all over the world, and maybe there is someone that doesn’t know Breonna Taylor’s story,’’ Osaka explained after sporting a mask bearing the name of a black woman shot dead by police in Louisville, Kentucky.
Earlier in the year, Osaka withdrew from the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati in protest at the police shooting of black man Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She agreed
to return only when organisers suspended play for a day.
It’s refreshing to see a young star putting social justice before personal glory.
What she said: ‘‘As a black woman I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis.’’
Scott Dixon: back in pole position
Age is just a number for Scott Dixon, who has racing history firmly in his sights. The New Zealander won his sixth IndyCars title this year to move within one of AJ Foyt’s record.
Dixon needed a ninth or better finish in the season finale in St Petersburg, Florida, to be assured of the title. He held his
nerve to come home in third, denying American rival Josef Newgarden a second successive crown.
Despite almost two decades on the IndyCars circuit, the 40-year-old Dixon has no plans to drive off into the sunset just yet – especially as the record books beckon.
‘‘Six is good, seven sounds better,’’ Dixon said moments after his triumph, later vowing to continue racing for another five years.
Dixon is also fuelled by a desire to win a second Indianapolis 500, the worldfamous race that’s eluded him since 2008.
What he said: ‘‘It was definitely a year none of us will forget.’’
Marcus Rashford: helping feed hungry children
Few people put their celebrity to better use this year than Marcus Rashford.
The Manchester United striker was a force to be reckoned with on and off the field, spearheading a campaign to get free school meals to deprived children during the UK’s coronavirus lockdown.
Rashford had originally persuaded the British government to extend its meal voucher programme over the summer holidays with an emotive open letter to MPs. But when he demanded the same be done during the half-term break, Downing Street refused.
It was only when councils, restaurants and cafes across England responded to Rashford’s appeal that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was shamed into another U-turn. The eventual £170 million (NZ$330 million) package for low-income families left the footballer ‘‘overwhelmed with pride’’.
Rashford’s tireless efforts to keep kids from going hungry earned him the admiration of football fans of all stripes, as well as recognition from the Queen in the shape of an MBE. Not bad for a 23-year-old working-class lad from a rough part of Manchester.
Even so, Rashford was accused of ‘‘virtue signalling’’ and told to ‘‘stick to football’’ by some critics.
His 16-minute Champions League hat-trick against Leipzig and late winner against PSG suggested he was capable of multitasking.
What he said: ‘‘Let’s stand together in saying that no children in the UK should be going to bed hungry.’’
Diego Mentrida: great sportsmanship
You probably don’t know his name, but Diego Mentrida deserves his place among our heroes for his remarkable act of sportsmanship at the end of the Santander Triathlon in September.
With less than 100 metres to go and a spot on the podium up for grabs, the Spaniard noticed that Britain’s James Teagle – who he’d trailed throughout – had got confused by the signage and taken a wrong turn off the course.
Rather than capitalising on his rival’s misfortune, the 21-year-old Mentrida waited metres short of the line for a mortified Teagle to overtake him.
The Englishman showed his appreciation with a firm handshake before crossing just ahead of Mentrida to secure a third-placed finish.
‘‘Seeing how he was wrong, unconsciously I stopped. He deserved it,’’ Mentriga explained after the gruelling race in the Spanish heat.
Teagle may have secured a bronze medal, but it was Mentriga’s selfless gesture that won global admiration.
What he said: ‘‘James deserved this medal. He didn’t notice the signs or they were misaligned. I don’t know, but the second time I would have acted the same.’’