1 He quit at the age of 24, having won five Olympic gold medals and 11 world titles and established 13 individual world records. He first represented his country, Australia, when he was 15.IAN THORPE
2 He scored 36 goals in 79 appearances for his country, which he left in 1993. He then spent two years in Italy before moving to England.
3 He trained 4,180 winners, his first in the 1974-75 season, and broke the 200 mark in a season on eight occasions.
4 He made his debut for Southampton in the 1987-88 season. He won the Premier League with his next team before playing for his home town club over the course of the next 10 seasons.ALAN SHEARER
5 This runner claimed seven world titles and won 84 of his 89 races between 1996 and 2004, but had failed to win his sport's greatest prize until his double triumph in Athens two years ago.
6 He won seven world titles, but his chances of winning an eighth were scuppered when he suffered a puncture in his final race.MICHAEL SCHUMACHER
7 He won Olympic gold medals for Britain alongside three colleagues in both 2000 and 2004 and in addition won six world titles.
8 He played for club teams in London and the east Midlands, made his international debut in 1997, won 55 England caps and helped to conquer the world in Sydney three years ago.
9 This formidable striker began his career at Dundee United before moving to Rangers. The last 12 years of his career were spent south of the border.
10 Born in Las Vegas, he won the first of his 60 career titles in 1987 and went on to become the world No 1.ANDRE AGASSI