As an Olympic year, 2012 was always going to bring the big plays. And what about the Paralympics… wow! There was also the usual flashy tries, brilliant goals, and spectacular jams so without further ado here are our top ten plays of the year.
Ben Barba Brilliance
If you took the Top 10 NRL moments of 2012, Barba would feature in most of them. Considering the opposition and the blatant disregard for common sense rugby league, this is definitely Barba’s best play of the year.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Long Rang Bicycle Kick
Best goal of the year? How about best goal ever! Zlatan put on a goal scoring masterclass booting all 4 goals as Sweden downed England 4-2. But it was his remarkable 90 minute effort that will be talked about for years to come.
Sally Pearson’s Olympic Gold
Possibly our most celebrated gold of the games, Sally Pearson managed to resuscitate the hopes of a nation. Anticipated to the point where anything less than a gold would have been considered a failure, Pearson’s relief as her achievement slowly sunk in was a genuine sports tearjerker.
Ricky Ponting’s Final Innings
As if choking back the tears after Sally’s breakthrough gold wasn’t hard enough, along came one of the the most emotional sporting moments in Australian history. Greeted by a guard of honour from the classy South Africans, Punter dispatched two balls to the boundary in classic fashion before nicking to fellow future great Jacques Kallis. Kallis refused to celebrate as a mark of respect and Punter walked off to a rapturous standing ovation.
AFL Mark and Goal Of The Year
Jeremy Howe dominated in the air with plenty of spectacular grabs. We think this was his best. Check the hang time!
And to all the haters, put your tape measures away and get a life. Lewis Jetta bounced the ball plenty in this runaway beauty. The goal set the tone for Sydney’s semi-final domination of the Pies and confirmed Jetta as the fastest in the game.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s Epic Rally At The End Of an Epic Match
In the 5hr and 53min final for the ages, Djokovic and Nadal continued to slug it out right to the very end. This 32 shot rally is but a glimpse of the dogged heroics shown from both players. Nadal wins this battle but Djokovic won the war.
Liz Cambage’s World First And Blake Griffin’s Super Dunk
Confirming her superstar status, Liz Cambage becomes the first female baller to jam at the Olympic games.
And sneaking in just before the year’s end comes this absolute monster jam from dunk king, Blake Griffin. Wow!
Michael Phelps’ Monster Putt
I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume that in a year where Phelpsie became the most decorated Olympian of all time, his fondest memory will by sinking this HUGE putt at St Andrews. It’s a golf thing.
Jamaica WR Gold Medal 4×100 Run
Bolt wins his third gold of the games in this truly dominant team performance. There is something truly satisfying about watching the best in the world live up to the hype.
Zheng Tao’s Armless Backstroke
There were many inspiring moments from the Paralympics this year. It’s the damn paralympics, that’s what it does! But none were more inspiring than the gold medal swim from China’s Zheng Tao. The shot of Tao, jaws locked on to his starters towel moments before the race, was the best of the year. Even more amazing was Tao’s actual race. Alternating between a butterfly kick and a regular kick, Tao embodied in one swim exactly why we love sport so much.
Here’s to a highlight filled new year!
