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 Soccer World Cup winners Germany were voted team of the year,
Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone coach of the year, the comeback of
the year went to speed skater Victor Ahn and Kei Nishikori took the
breakthrough award.
After off-course issues contributed to a thin 2013, McIlroy roared
back this year by winning the British Open and the U.S. PGA to
double his career major tally.
He then produced one of the most dominant singles displays for years
to crush Rickie Fowler and set the tone for Europe's march to
another Ryder Cup triumph.
The year ended with McIlroy top of the world rankings and money list
and undisputedly the best player in the game.
The battle for the women's title was a closer affair, with many
voters swayed by Serena Williams' age-defying achievements.
 However, in Olympic year, Wust took dominance to a new level. Her
five medals - gold in the 3,000m and team pursuit and silver in the
1,000, 1,500 and 5,000m - matched the individual record at any
Winter Games. It also took her career tally to eight, including four
golds, making her the most successful Dutch Olympian of all time.
Sochi was also the site for Ahn's remarkable return to the Olympic
ice. Eight years after winning three golds for South Korea then
switching nationalities to Russia after falling out with his
federation, Ahn stormed to three more golds for his adopted nation,
the most by any athlete in Sochi.
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Japan's Nishikori became the first male player from Asia to reach a
tennis grand slam final after a stunning U.S. Open run that included
victory over world number one Novak Djokovic before he lost in the
final to Croatian Marin Cilic.
Simeone's place in Atletico Madrid's Hall of Fame was secured when
he led the city's "second team" to their first Spanish League title
for 18 years. He was within seconds of adding the Champions League
title too before losing out to Real Madrid after extra time in the
final.
Soccer also produced the Reuters flop of the year in the shape of
the Brazilian national team.
After scuffing their way to the semi-finals in their own tournament
they were blown away 7-1 by eventual champions Germany in one of the
most seismic results in the history of the world's most popular
sport.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
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