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Agence France-Presse

Sporting stars had their say in 2019, on the field, in front of the microphone and on social media. Here are some of the top quotes from the biggest names in sport over the past year.
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, the Springboks’ first black test captain.

“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 explaining the nature of pressure in his homeland.
Rugby World Cup winner Siya Kolisi has become a leader for South Africa, says his idol Schalk Burger
FOOTBALL
“I think I’m particularly, uniquely and very deeply American”
– Megan Rapinoe, USA’s World Cup winning superstar, a warrior on the pitch and off it where her unflinching advocacy for social justice 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 Champions League final win over Tottenham.
“Humble”
– After the acrimony that defined his final days at Manchester United Jose Mourinho arrived as Tottenham’s new manager saying he had learned from his mistakes and wanted to bring happiness to Spurs.
Football World Cup star Megan Rapinoe calls out racism and homophobia in Fifa acceptance speech
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.

ATHLETICS
“If Karsten is Gordon Gekko then I am the IRS”
– American Rai Benjamin compares himself to the US Internal Revenue Service after Karsten Warholm expressed admiration for fictional immoral financier Gordon Gekko from the Wall Street films. Warholm beat Benjamin to 400m hurdles gold at the world championships in Doha.
“The message that no human is limited is now in everybody’s mind”
– Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge after making history, smashing the mythical two hour barrier for the marathon on a crisp autumnal morning in Vienna.
Why Eliud Kipchoge smiles during sub-two hour marathon – the science behind the historic grin

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 Tiger Roll put his name alongside the legendary Red Rum by winning back-to-back Grand Nationals.
“He is a little like myself. He likes the good things in life – eating, drinking and sleeping, though he is a little more athletic than me!”
– Tiger Roll’s trainer Gordon Elliott comparing himself to his Aintree hero.

TENNIS
“I’m the loser both times, so that’s the only similarity I see.”
– Federer on what were the similarities between losing to Novak Djokovic in 2019 and to Rafael Nadal in 2008’s equally classic Wimbledon final.
“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 defeating Roger Federer for his fifth Wimbledon title in the longest final in the tournament’s history.
Wimbledon 2019: Novak Djokovic defends men’s title after outlasting Roger Federer in marathon five-hour final

“Congratulations @Bandreescu_! You’ve made history and made a whole country very proud. #SheTheNorth”
– Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweets his support for Bianca Andreescu who defeated Serena Williams in the US Open final to become Canada’s first grand slam singles champion.
“Inexcusable”
– Serena williams berates herself for her performance against Andreescu
“I’m not a big fan of subways. We have also in Czech, but I never really use. There can be strange people.”
– At the US Open, Karolina Pliskova admits the New York City subway is not her preferred mode of transport.
GOLF
“It’s overwhelming just because of what has transpired. I could barely walk. Couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t walk. Couldn’t do anything. To have the opportunity to come back, it’s one of the biggest wins I’ve ever had for sure.”
– Tiger Woods after completing an epic comeback from career-threatening injury and scandal by winning the 83rd Masters, his 15th major title to end an 11-year major drought.

Tiger Woods wins 15th major title with spectacular Masters victory
“It’s just another step. Things at Augusta National don’t happen very rapidly”
– Kay Cockerill, the 1986 and 1987 US Women’s Amateur champion, after history was made at the once all-male enclave with the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
FORMULA ONE
“Not bad for a boy from a Stevenage council house.”
– A proud Anthony Hamilton after son Lewis secured his sixth world championship.
CRICKET
“Almost superhuman”
– England captain Eoin Morgan paying tribute to Ben Stokes after the all-rounder played a pivotal role in the Super Over World Cup final win over New Zealand.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL
“How could this not motivate you? It’s what it’s all about”
– Tom Brady after writing his name in the record books winning the Super Bowl for a sixth time as the New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams.
RUSSIAN DOPING
Moscow has gone “too far”.
– Former Wada chief Dick Pound after Russia accused of falsifying laboratory doping data.
Russia banned from Olympic Games over doping scandal
BOXING
“Three months of partying and celebrating affected me, what can I say?”
– A chubby Andy Ruiz ruing his failure to train properly for his failed heavyweight title defence against Anthony Joshua.



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‘I’m particularly, uniquely and very deeply American’ – the best sports quotes of 2019

Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan speak to the media at the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup. Photo: EPA

Tour de France winner Egan Bernal smiles as he is welcomed home to Zipaquira, Colombia, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. Bernal rode into the town's central square on his bike on wearing the Tour de France's iconic yellow jersey. A group of some 3,000 supporters dressed in the same color chanted his name. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

(190716) -- BEIJING, July 16, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Novak Djokovic of Serbia holds the trophy after winning the men's singles final against Roger Federer of Switzerland at the 2019 Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, on July 14, 2019. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

Defending champion Andy Ruiz Jr., left, takes a jab to the face during his fight against Britain's Anthony Joshua in their World Heavyweight Championship contest at the Diriyah Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

England's Ben Stokes makes his way through fans at the Oval in London, Monday, July 15, 2019 one day after they won the Cricket World Cup in a final match against New Zealand.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

(FILES) In this file photograph taken on November 2, 2019, South Africa's flanker Siya Kolisi (C) lifts the Webb Ellis Cup as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup final match between England and South Africa at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama. - The Springboks delighted the 'Rainbow Nation' by overcoming an opening pool defeat by New Zealand to claim a third World Cup title after previous successes in 1995 and 2007. Reinvigorated by coach Rassie Erasmus, a multi-cultural team skippered by the country's first black skipper, Siya Kolisi, beat Japan and Wales in the knock-out phase to set up a final against England, a game they won easily, 32-12, to claim the Webb Ellis trophy. The Springboks' gameplan was not a tough one to work out: forward power and a crashball midfield alongside a solid kicking game to ensure maximum pressure on opponents. When they cracked, the playmakers set outstanding flying wingers Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin K

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, the marathon world record holder, celebrates as he successfully completes his attempt to run a marathon in under two hours in Vienna, Austria, October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

FILE PHOTO: Golf - Masters - Augusta National Golf Club - Augusta, Georgia, U.S. - April 14, 2019. Tiger Woods of the U.S. celebrates with with his green jacket and trophy after winning the 2019 Masters. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

TOPSHOT - A video of Reign FC's US midfielder Megan Rapinoe is displayed after she won the Ballon d'Or France Football 2019 women's trophy at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris on December 2, 2019. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

CEO of Ryanair Michael O'Leary speaks to journalists during a press briefing in central London on December 1, 2015. Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair today said it had launched a court action against Internet giant Google and online travel agent eDreams, accusing them of misleading customers and not offering the best deal. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL

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From South Africa’s first black captain to US president Donald Trump – they had their say over the past year

