Rafael Nadal of Spain holds his trophy after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in their finals match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London July 6, 2008.(Xinhua File Photo)

6. Rafael Nadal (male, Spain)

The 22-year-old tennis star claimed the men's singles titles in the French Open, Wimbledon and the Beijing Olympics this year. He also overtook Roger Federer from Switzerland to top the ATP ranking.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant stands with his daughter Natalia (L) and holds his other daughter Gianna along with the Maurice Podoloff Trophy after being named the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) during a presentation in Los Angeles, California May 6, 2008. Bryant, long regarded as one of the basketball league's top players, wins the award for the first time in his 12-year NBA career. (Xinhua File Photo)

7. Kobe Bryant (male, United States)

The 30-year-old basketball star led the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Western Conference champions last season, receiving the NBA MVP award for the first time in his career. At the Beijing Olympics, he led the U.S. team to the top podium which they missed for eight years.

McLaren's Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain drinks before the Brazilian F1 Grand Prix in Sao Paulo November 2, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

8. Lewis Hamilton (male, Britain)

The 23-year-old Formula One driver became the youngest-ever F1 world champion this year with a total of 98 points.

Spain's Iker Casillas holds up the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after their Euro 2008 final soccer match victory over Germany at the Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna, in this June 29, 2008 file photo. (Xinhua File Photo)

9. Iker Casillas Fernandez (male, Spain)

The 27-year-old goalkeeper and the captain of Spain led his team to the top podium in the European soccer championship this year. It was the first time for Spain to take the crown in 44 years.

Cuba's Dayron Robles poses as he celebrates his 110-metres hurdles world record during the Golden Spike World Athletics Tour meeting in Ostrava June 12, 2008. (Xinhua File Photo)

10. Dayron Robles (male, Cuba)

The 22-year-old sprinter ran in 12.87 seconds in the men's 110 meters hurdles at the IAAF Grand Prix in the Czech Republic in June, breaking the world record of 12.88 seconds set by Chinese talent Liu Xiang. Then Robles was crowned at the Beijing Olympics. In November, he received the IAAF high performance award of the year.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2008)