LONDON — Double major golf winner Rory McIlroy and prolific Olympic Dutch speed skater Irene Wust have been named Reuters sportsman and sportswoman of the year after a poll of the news agency's sports journalists from around the world. Soccer World Cup winner Germany was voted team of the year, Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone coach of the year, the comeback of the year went to short track 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 US 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. Japan's Nishikori became the first male player from Asia to reach a tennis Grand Slam final after a stunning US Open run that included victory over world No. 1 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 semifinals in their own tournament they were blown away 7-1 by eventual champion Germany in one of the most seismic results in the history of the world's most popular sport. Davis wins honors No one in the sports world had heard of the 2014 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year until August. That's when 13-year-old Mo'ne Davis became an instant celebrity as she took the pitching mound in baseball's Little League World Series and mowed down batter after batter, giving “throw like a girl” a whole new meaning. She was the first girl to win a Little League World Series game, and her performance dazzled fans young and old. Her steely gaze and demeanor on the mound were intimidating, while off-the-field, she shined in interviews. She told admirers that if they thought she was good at baseball, they should see her play basketball. Only in eighth grade, Davis already plays for her school's high school varsity basketball team. Davis appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, has her jersey displayed in baseball's Hall of Fame and was named Sports Kid of the Year by Sports Illustrated Kids. The talented three-sport star — she also plays soccer — and honor student from South Philadelphia handled all the attention with poise, modesty and maturity. “A lot of adults around me help out, taught me to be respectful, to be calm during everything and not let anything get to you,” Davis said after learning of her latest honor. A vote by US editors and news directors selected Davis as the Associated Press 2014 Female Athlete of the Year. The youngest winner in history, Davis beat out Mt. St. Joseph freshman Lauren Hill — who played her first college basketball game while battling terminal brain cancer — and three-time winner Serena Williams. The selection was announced Monday. Davis knows she has become a role model. Her message to everyone, especially girls: “Always follow your dreams. If there's something people tell you that you can't do it, go for it.” — Agencies
