With some big names hanging up their boots, 2016 left the world of sports poorer. While many went out on a high, a few quietly walked into the sunset. Be it Formula 1 or football, basketball or American football, the fans had their teary-eyed moments along with their heroes.
Here's a look at some of the big names who called it a day in 2016:
Nico Rosberg
The 31-year-old German Formula One racer shocked the fraternity and F1 fans worldwide with his sudden decision to retire soon after he won the drivers' championship. Rosberg came second in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but won nine of this season's 21 grands prix. "I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right," he wrote on his Facebook page. Rosberg beat three-time champion and his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton by five points to clinch his maiden world title. What next? If Rosberg has his way, you would soon see him as an action hero in Hollywood!
Jenson Button
With 305 races in his career, the British driver is only behind Michael Schumacher (306) and Rubens Barrichello (322). Button started his F1 career with Williams when he was 20. His maiden driver's championship came in 2009 with Brawn, which competed only that year and ended up winning the constructors' championship as well. His last race—at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix—ended in disappointment, with his front right tyre giving way during the race, forcing an early end. He was with McLaren for the past six years, but has decided against racing for the team in 2017, though his contract extends till 2018. So, will he return in 2018? Highly unlikely, 36-year-old Button admits.
Felipe Massa
Every now and then, there comes along a sportsperson who is loved by all. People like Williams' F1 driver Massa, who was given a guard of honour by the members of other teams, including Mercedes and his former employer Ferrari, after he crashed out of his penultimate race at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Massa never won the drivers' championship—he lost out by one point to Hamilton in 2008—but won hearts with his sportsmanship. A freak accident in 2009 almost ended his life and career but he fought his way back to the race track. He was with Ferrari for eight seasons with none other than the legendary Schumacher as his teammate. Misfortune and circumstances may have conspired to rob him of drivers' titles but his greatness lay beyond statistics and records.
Kobe Bryant
Two decades with the same team—Los Angeles Lakers, in his case—speaks volumes of the man's commitment and loyalty. Especially when it is Bryant, who overtook Michael Jordan to claim the third position on the all-time scoring list in NBA history with 33,583 points, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) and Karl Malone (36,928). Bryant led the US basketball team to consecutive gold in 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Add to that five championship rings, and we know why the 'Black Mamba' is one of the legends of the game. He retired in style, scoring a record 60 points in his final NBA game.
Michael Phelps
He lost focus after the 2008 Beijing Olympics but came back with a vengeance in 2012 London Olympics. He said he was done and that he is retiring. Four years later in Rio, he was back in the pool, doing what he does best—winning medals. After the Rio Games, and 28 Olympic medals—of which, 23 are gold—overall, the American swimming legend said he is not coming back to the pool ever again. With five gold and one silver in Rio, it was an almost-perfect swansong for the 31-year-old. With fiancée Nicole Johnson and their baby son Boomer by his side at their Maryland home, and the Michael Phelps Foundation to attend to, it appears unlikely that there will be a rethink.
Yelena Isinbayeva
The 34-year-old Russian pole-vaulter would have loved a fairytale finish to her glittering career, during which she set 28 world records. She competed in three Olympics—gold at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, and bronze at London 2012. But, the blanket ban on Russian track and field athletes because of an alleged state-run doping programme, caused her to miss the Rio bus. Isinbayeva was extremely critical of the ban imposed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). She announced her retirement a day after she was elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) athletes' commission along with three others. She holds the world record for the highest vault, with an effort of 5.06m set in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2009.
Steven Gerrard
The only player to have scored in a Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup final, Gerrard spent the majority of his career at Liverpool—11 seasons as part of the youth team beginning 1987, and 17 with the senior side. He made 710 appearances for the club, scored 186 goals and won eight major trophies. He represented England in 114 games before retiring after the country's group stage exit in 2014. He was with Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy when he decided to hang up his boots forever. Liverpool, however, has kept its door open for its prodigal son to return in a different role if he wishes to.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Chanderpaul is to West Indies cricket as Rahul Dravid is to Indian cricket. Both were exceptionally talented, unassuming and selfless players who were overshadowed by larger-than-life peers. The seventh-highest Test scorer of all time (11,867 runs in 164 matches), the Guyanese left-hander was the team's go-to man when the chips were down. Chanderpaul also played 268 one-day internationals, scoring 8,778 runs at a terrific average of 41.6. Popular for his black anti-glare patches under his eyes and an unorthodox batting stance, Chanderpaul is only the second modern-day cricketer—the other being Sachin Tendulkar—to have a playing career spanning more than two decades. He was dropped from the side in 2015 due to poor form and was not even handed the annual contract by the West Indies cricket board.
Peyton Manning
American football bid goodbye to one of its legends this year. Manning, 40, retired as the National Football League's undisputed leader in passing touchdowns (539), passing yards (71,940) and quarterback wins (186, same as Brett Favre). In 18 seasons—four years with the Broncos and 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts—he notched up five Most Valuable Player awards and two Super Bowl wins. An allegation of sexual assault apart, the legendary quarterback enjoyed a largely controversy-free and rewarding career.
