Some of 2019's most thrilling sporting action also served up some of the year's most memorable quotes
Novak Djokovic celebrates after prevailing 13-12 in a marathon deciding set against old foe Roger Federer to win his fifth Wimbledon singles crown and 16th Grand Slam title on July 14. [Photo/Agencies]
Tennis
These kind of matches, you work for, you live for, they give sense and they give value to every minute you spend on the court training and working to get yourself in this position and play the match with one of your greatest rivals of all time."
Novak Djokovic, after taking four hours and 57 minutes to beat Roger Federer in July’s epic Wimbledon final
Switzerland's Roger Federer in action during his exhibition match against Germany's Alexander Zverev, Plaza Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico, Nov 23, 2019. [Photo/Agencies]
"I'm the loser both times, so that's the only similarity I see."
Roger Federer, on losing to Novak Djokovic in this year's Wimbledon final compared to his 2008 loss to Rafa Nadal in another SW19 classic
South Africa's captain Siya Kolisi talks with team mates, Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand, Sept 15, 2018. [Photo/Agencies]
Rugby union
"We have so many problems in our country but a team like this, we come from different backgrounds, different races but we came together with one goal and we wanted to achieve it."
Siya Kolisi, South Africa's first black Test captain on the Springboks' run to World Cup glory
"In South Africa pressure is not having a job. Pressure is one of your close relatives being murdered."
Rassie Erasmus, South Africa's World Cup-winning head coach, eloquently putting the pressure of his job into perspective
US soccer player Megan Rapinoe poses as she arrives for the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Awards in New York, US, Dec 9, 2019. [Photo/Agencies]
Soccer
"I think I'm particularly, uniquely and very deeply American."
Megan Rapinoe, Team USA's World Cup-winning superstar, whose insistence that she would not visit the White House if invited brought her into conflict with US President Donald Trump
Rapinoe "should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job!"
Trump on Twitter
"This is only the start."
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, after the Reds' Champions League final win over Tottenham
"Humble."
Jose Mourinho, after the acrimony that defined his Manchester United reign, Mourinho arrived as Tottenham's new manager saying he had learnt from his mistakes and wanted to bring happiness to Spurs
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in a car with his father, Anthony Hamilton, and brother, Nicolas Hamilton, before the race, Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Britain, July 14, 2019. [Photo/Agencies]
Formula One
"Not bad for a boy from a Stevenage council house."
A proud Anthony Hamilton, after son Lewis secured his sixth world championship
Team INEOS rider Egan Bernal of Colombia, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, before the start during he 128-km Stage 21 from Rambouillet to Paris Champs-Elysees, July 28, 2019. [Photo/Agencies]
Cycling
"It's team, team, team, get up, see the doctor, have breakfast, ride the race, get a massage, physio and sleep. Then repeat."
Egan Bernal, painting a mundane picture of life as Colombia's first Tour de France champion
Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, takes part in a team building exercise during 2019 Athletes Annual Conference in Eldoret, Kenya. Dec 4, 2019. [Photo/Agencies]
Athletics
"The message that no human is limited is now in everybody's mind."
Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, after making history by smashing the mythical two-hour barrier for the marathon on a crisp autumnal morning in Vienna
Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary speaks during a Reuters Newsmaker event in London, Britain, Oct 1, 2019. [Photo/Agencies]
Horse racing
"He is a once-in-a-lifetime horse who has given us a twice-in-a-lifetime experience."
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, succinctly summing up his thoughts after his Irish-bred racehorse put his name alongside the legendary Red Rum by winning back-to-back Grand Nationals
Gold medallist Caeleb Dressel of the US poses, Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, South Korea, July 27, 2019. [Photo/Agencies]
Swimming
"I'm not in this sport to beat out one guy. I know the comparisons are going to be made, but for me, it's all from within what I feel like I am capable of doing."
Caeleb Dressel, on expectations that he will beat Michael Phelps' single-Games Olympic record of eight gold medals in Tokyo next year, after the American became the first male swimmer to win eight medals, including six gold, at July's world championships
Anthony Joshua brutally connects with a right hook to Andy Ruiz Jr's face during their world heavyweight title rematch in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, on Dec 7. Britain's Joshua won via unanimous decision to reclaim his IBF, WBA and WBO belts. [ACTION IMAGES/REUTERS]
Boxing
"Three months of partying and celebrating affected me, what can I say?" Andy Ruiz Jr, ruing his failure to train properly for his failed world heavyweight title defense against Anthony Joshua. "Sometimes simplicity is genius. I was outclassing the champion."
Anthony Joshua, after getting his tactics right at the second attempt to defeat Andy Ruiz Jr. in their world heavyweight title rematch
