A role model in consistent excellence and ironclad resilience, shot put queen Valerie Adams once again proved untouchable in 2014, extending her unbeaten run to 56 successive events.
Adams' remarkable dominance saw her scoop the IAAF World Female Athlete of the Year award at a glitzy ceremony in Monaco lastmonth - quite how it taken this long for the world athletics body to honour the all-conquering Adams with the top award is anyone's guess.
The award comes after what Adams has described as her most difficult season yet as she returned from knee surgery a year ago, and battled shoulder and elbow injuries as the wear and tear from 15 years in the sport took a toll on her frame.
Even though she was not physically at her peak this season, she was still easily the best.
Adams may have biffed the shot further in previous seasons, but assessed on its own merits the shot put superstar had an outstanding year as, for the fourth year in succession, the world and Olympic champion ended the season undefeated, having won all 14 events she started.
The Olympic champion added a ninth senior global title to her collection when she successfully defended her world indoor crown in Sopot, Poland, with 20.67m, the outright best throw in the world in 2014 and the second-best performance in the history of the championships. It was also the best mark Adams has ever achieved indoors during the winter season.
Adams then dominated the IAAF Diamond League season, and was the only athlete in the world to win atall seven league fixtures in any discipline.
In July, she won her third straight Commonwealth title with a 19.88m throw. With Adams a class above the rest of her competition in the event, even the worst throw in her series that day would have been enough to win by more than a metre.
Such is Adams' standing in her sport, results-wise it was all-in-all just a typical year for her.
Valerie Adams • Won all 14 events she started in 2014 • Extended unbeaten run to 54 events • Commonwealth Games gold medallist • IAAF world athlete of the year November 22, Monaco
