The big-serving Border tennis star now sits 75th in the singles world order, more than 120 spots higher than the same time last year. In doubles, he is the highest ranked Aussie at No. 31, almost 50 spots higher than last year. The man with the fastest recorded serve played in the doubles semi-final at Roland Garros, won his fi rst ATP title and made a winning debut for Australia in Davis Cup.

Corowa's international golfer was forced to miss almost the entire European Tour season after surgery failed to fix a troublesome left wrist. Fraser, on the cusp of the world top 50 less than a year a go, required revolutionary injections of what was effectively his own blood to deal with what specialists believed was a form of tendonitis. In his first start back, Fraser finished top 5 at the Hong Kong Open and was then beaten by just a stroke by Lee Westwood two weeks ago.

The Wangaratta-raised and one-time Albury trained backstroker broke her Commonwealth Games medal drought in style with firstly bronze in the 100m at the Glasgow Games and then a stunning last to first win in her pet 200m event. The turnaround in fortune followed a disastrous London Olympics that prompted Hocking’s move from the AIS to Melbourne in a bid to be more self reliant.

She was the youngest Australian in the village at the Vancouver Winter Olympics and almost a veteran in Sochi at just 19. After missing a chance at direct qualification for the Olympic fi nal, the Mount Beautyraised freestyle skier excelled in the second round to be top-six and held a bronze medal position before being relegated to fifth and just outside the medals by the last two skiers on the course.

The teenage Lady Bandit had already underlined her potential with selection in the Australian under-19 side when just 16. But her breakout may have been at this month’s Oceania tournament where the now 18-year-old was among the best on court as the Aussies qualified for the world youth titles.

Wodonga's Elkington produced three personal bests to take gold and the No. 1 world ranking in the parasport long jump at the Commonwealth Games. She had all but wrapped up the long jump gold with three jumps to go in Glasgow. The cerebral palsy sufferer represented Australia in track sprint events at the Delhi Commonwealth Games and London Paralympics and switched to long jump after a break from the sport.

THE Border triathlete finished the year ranked 39th in the world in his punishing choice of sport. Featonby had wins mid-year in China and went back-to-back in Osaka. Featonby’s eighth place in the final ITU World Cup event of the year lifted him up the rankings and close to being part of the lucrative top-tier world tour.

THE Wodonga golfer took on the world’s best here and abroad as he continued to climb the amateur world rankings. Murray played at the birthplace of golf at St Andrews but the highlight was a run into the fi nal 16 at the US junior amateur that has previous winners including Tiger Woods and wunder-kid Jordan Spieth. Murray was also invited to the Australian Open, an eagle at the last still leaving him just outside the cut.

THE one-time cross-country skier has been picked up by Orica GREEN Edge to ride internationally next year, just months after being on death’s door during the European summer. McConville rode to a podium finish as part of the AIS team during the fi ve-day Energiewacht Tour only to discover that her breathing difficulties weren’t asthma as fi rst diagnosed but two blood clots on her lungs.

The Lavington go-karter went to the world titles in Spain with low aspirations. He was in a kart he had never driven, was up against professional drivers and then it rained. Despite the adversity, the 17-year-old finished just three seconds from the winner and on the podium. The titles are seen as a major stepping stone to more lucrative motor sports and offers are sure to be on the table.