Square Mile Sport Awards - Vote Now!
The ICAP Sportsperson of the Year goes to the man or woman who, in the view of the City, has achieved the most in terms of sporting excellence over the course of 2007. The winner was chosen from the 7 nominees below…
Lewis Hamilton, F1
The rapid rise of Lewis Hamilton in his debut F1 season has been well-documented. Despite being pipped at the post to be crowned world champion in his rookie season, the 22-year old has still rewritten the sport’s record books. The young Briton, who started racing go-karts at the tender age of eight years old, has done it all while withstanding the pressure of what has been one of the most eventful years in F1 history. He is still on course to become the youngest world champion and can end the 20-year drought since a Briton last rose to the summit of the sport. Long may it continue.
Ricky Hatton, Boxing
After his feats over the course of 2007, Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton can now rightfully claim to not only be one of the greatest British fighters of all-time but one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. Having been a two-time IBF and IBO Light Welterweight Champion, Hatton then went on to defeat Jose Luis Castillo in a pulsating fight. Hatton retained the championship, with his record now standing at 43 fights, 43 wins, with 31 coming by way of knockout.
Christine Ohuruogu, Athletics
At the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, British 400m runner Christine Ohuruogu completed one of the greatest comebacks ever witnessed in the history of British athletics. Within 24 days of the end of a year-long competition suspension due to missing three consecutive random drugs tests, Ohuruogu surprised the field to take the women’s 400m World Championships title ahead of fellow Briton Nicola Sanders. Widely acknowledged within athletics to be the victim of forgetfulness as opposed to any actual drug offence, Ohuruogu put all her detractors behind her to win the race despite having had little competitive action of note in preparation for the sport’s showpiece event.
Luol Deng, Basketball
British basketball player Luol Deng is a household name in the US where he regularly hits the headlines for his standout performances for legendary NBA side the Chicago Bulls. Having entered the NBA in 2004, Deng has improved year-by-year, becoming the only Bull to start all 82 regular season games in the 2006-07 season, averaging 18.8 points per game. Deng has also reaffirmed his commitment to the Great Britain team, almost single-handedly ensuring the side’s qualification for Europe’s Division A league – a significant step towards the side winning a place in the 2012 Olympics tournament.
Frankie Dettori, Horse Racing
Effervescent jockey Frankie Dettori has enjoyed a number of highs in his career at the top of the horse racing tree but 2007 was a fruitful year even by his own elevated standards. The Epsom Derby was the only British classic race Dettori had not won in his career, until his fifteenth attempt on 2nd June of this year when he crossed the winning line victorious on the Peter Chapple-Hyam trained Authorized. The following day he went one step further, winning the Prix du Jockey Club on Lawman, consequently notching up an unmatched Derby double.
James Toseland, Motorcycling
For those in the know, it is no surprise that James Toseland has risen to the very summit of motorcycling, becoming Britain’s first ever double World Superbikes champion. Mirroring the emergence of his F1 counterpart Lewis Hamilton, Toseland first sprang to prominence in the late nineties when he dominated the Honda CB500 Cup series as a 17 year old. Having climbed the ladder in rapid fashion to win his first World Superbike title in 2006, he won one race in each of the first five meetings of 2007 on the way to retaining his title. His success has ensured a high profile move to motorcycling’s arguably most elite series, MotoGP for the 2008 season where he will be racing with the Yamaha Tech3 team.
Jason Robinson, Rugby Union
There are few rugby players who have achieved as much in their careers as England winger Jason Robinson. With over 50 caps to his name not to mention a World Cup winners’ medal, few begrudged Robinson his decision to retire from international duty in late 2005. However, the flyer was clearly not finished with the game as he was then convinced to return to the fold by new national coach Brian Ashton to help get England back on track ahead of the 2007 World Cup. And how he responded. Regularly one of England’s best players throughout the tournament, he even managed to rebound from a hamstring injury to lead England out in the semi-final against France to rapturous applause from an appreciative crowd.
Joe Calzaghe, Boxing
It’s often claimed that certain sports stars don’t get the recognition their continued success deserves but, in the case of Joe Calzaghe, these words ring especially true. The Welsh boxer is the longest reigning title holder in any weight class in boxing, recently passing the ten year mark as the WBO middleweight champion with a unanimous points victory over previously unbeaten Dane Mikkel Kessler. This historic victory saw Calzaghe unify all the titles at super middleweight for the first time whilst also surpassing the 20 successful defences mark made by Bernard Hopkins and Larry Holmes at middleweight and heavyweight respectively.