Campbell has had a rough time in recent years but finished 2008 strongly before tearing a muscle in his shoulder.
NZ Herald report
2. Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell - Rowing
The golden girls of New Zealand sport cemented their place in history when they became the first crew to successfully defend the Olympic women's double sculls title in Beijing last year.
Caroline and Georgina, who have since retired, were warm favorites in Athens in 2004 and rarely troubled on their way to a first gold medal.
However, things were a little different for the three-time world champions in Beijing. The twins crept under the radar after having a rocky buildup to the event, including failing to make the A final at a World Cup regatta in Poland in June.
In Beijing, they won their heat comfortably but the final was a scrap right down the line, the twins edging out the German and British crews in a photo finish by .01s.
Herald on Sunday report
3. Rob Waddell - Rowing, Yachting
Waddell has forged stellar careers in both rowing and yachting, switching between Olympic and America's Cup campaigns since 1996.
Waddell's crowning glory is his Olympic single sculls gold medal in Sydney, 2000 but over the last 10 years his record reads as follows: two single sculls world championships, two America's Cup campaigns and two Olympics - all while dealing with a heart condition he kept secret until it surfaced during the deciding Olympic trial against Mahe Drysdale last year.
NZ Herald report
4. Sarah Ulmer - Cycling
Ulmer fulfilled her immense potential at the Athens Olympics in 2004 when she became the first New Zealander to win a cycling gold medal, blitzing the field in the 3000m individual pursuit.
Ulmer, a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, entered Athens as the reigning world champion and had no trouble living up to that billing, breaking the world record twice on her way to gold, including slashing two seconds off the time in the final.
NZ Herald report
5. Scott Dixon - Motorsport
Scott Dixon put his name alongside New Zealand's motorsport greats by becoming the first Kiwi to win the prestigious Indy500 race last year.
Dixon went on to capture his second Indy Racing League title, the first coming in 2003 in his rookie season, equalling the record number of six victories along the way.
Dixon tested with Formula One team BMW Williams in 2004 and has had discussions with other teams but has indicated he will continue racing Indy cars for a few years yet.
"I don't want to give up what I have here [in America]," he told the Herald in December.
NZ Herald report
6. Valerie Vili - Athletics
At just 23, Vili is set for a long reign at the top having already won all there is in shot put.
The Rotorua-born Aucklander capped off a memorable three years in Beijing last year, adding Olympic gold to those won at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2007 World Championships.
Vili went to Beijing as New Zealand's greatest medal prospect and she didn't disappoint, throwing a personal best of 20.56m on her way to gold with only one other competitor passing the 20m mark.
Along with a host of world junior titles, Vili also won silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 2005 World Championships.
NZ Herald report
7. Richie McCaw - Rugby
Since making his debut for the All Blacks with a man-of-the-match performance against Ireland in 2001, Richie McCaw has set the benchmark for loose forward play around the world.
McCaw has gone on to captain the All Blacks in 33 of his 70 tests and has also had great success leading Canterbury and the Crusaders. Has twice been named New Zealand player of the year (2003 and 2006) and in 2006 was recognized by the International Rugby Board as the world's best player.
McCaw copped a severe dose of criticism following the 2007 World Cup disaster in France, with many, including an official report, questioning his leadership abilities. But the Otago-born openside responded in superb fashion the following year, lifting his game to another level as the All Blacks won the Beldisloe Cup, Tri-Nations and the Grand Slam.
Herald on Sunday report
8. Russell Coutts - Yachting
Regarded as one of the world's finest sailors, Russell Coutts has won the America's Cup three times - twice in the last 10 years - and holds an unbeaten record when racing for the Auld Mug.
Despite his recent success, Coutts is a divisive figure in New Zealand due to his decision to walk out on Team NZ for Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli's Alinghi syndicate.
Coutts missed the 2007 America's Cup because of a falling out with Bertarelli but has since been picked up by another billionaire, US software tycoon Larry Ellison, and will skipper Oracle in the next regatta (whenever it is).
NZ Herald report
9. Stacey Jones - League
Stacey Jones is one of the all time greats of New Zealand rugby league, if not the greatest.
Jones set all sorts of records with the Warriors in the NRL, including most games (238), most tries (75) and most points (654), and is the only player to be made a life member of the club.
The diminutive halfback played 47 tests for the Kiwis, scoring 17 tries, and in 2005 helped break decades of Australian dominance by inspiring the Kiwis to a 24-0 victory over the Kangaroos in the Tri-Nations final in Britain.
Jones' solo try in the 2002 Grand Final defeat to the Roosters was a moment of rugby league magic and the only blot on his career was that he was never able to capture an NRL premiership. However, with the 'little general' coming out of retirement this season with the Warriors, that may be set to change.
NZ Herald report
10. Irene Van Dyk - Netball
South Africa's loss has definitely been the Silver Ferns' gain.
Since joining the Ferns in 2000, Van Dyk has become the team's most valuable and recognised player, posting shooting percentages that have rarely been seen in netball before.
The Waikato/BOP Magic shooter played an integral part in New Zealand's dominance over Australia between 2003-2006, in which they won the World Championships and Commonwealth Games. It would be fair to assume that without her, the Ferns may not have had the same success.
In 2003 Van Dyk received the Halberg award for New Zealand sportswoman of the year, while her 72 caps for South Africa and 85 for New Zealand have seen her become the most capped player of all time.
NZ Herald report
