Athlete of the Month
Anthony Davis, Basketball, United States: Kentucky center Anthony Davis, who is a projected No. 1 NBA draft pick, led the Wildcats to its eighth national championship with a victory, 67-59, over Kansas in New Orleans on April 2. College basketball’s player of the year made only 1 of 10 shots and scored 6 points, but he shined everywhere else. He finished with 16 rebounds, six blocked shots, five assists and three steals. The 6-foot-10 freshman was voted the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player.
Philip Humber, Baseball, United States: The White Sox's Philip Humber threw the 21st perfect game in baseball history against the Seattle Mariners. Humber did not allow any batters to get on base, throwing the first perfect game in the majors in almost two years. Humber, who blew out his elbow in 2004, fell behind three balls to zero strikes against Michael Saunders leading off the ninth inning. But he rebounded to strike him out. John Jaso then flied out before Brendan Ryan, another pinch hitter, struck out to end the game. Humber struck out nine and threw just 96 pitches in his first career complete game.
Wesley Korir, Marathon, Kenya: Kenyan Wesley Korir endured record high temperatures to win the 116th Boston Marathon. A permanent resident of the United States, Korir sang religious songs as he trudged along the scorching pavement to cross the finish line in 85-degree temperatures with a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 40 seconds. Korir retook the lead from Kenyan Levy Matebo in the final mile and beat him by 26 seconds after struggling with leg cramps in the heat earlier in the race.
Rafael Nadal, Tennis, Spain: Rafael Nadal finally managed to beat Novak Djokovic in a final, thrashing the top-ranked Serb, 6-3, 6-1, to win the Monte Carlo Masters for the eighth consecutive year. The victory ended a run of seven straight defeats to Djokovic. Nadal broke the Serb's serve five times in a one-sided affair on clay to win his 42nd straight match at Monte Carlo. It was Nadal's first title since last year's French Open and the 47th of his career.
Robin van Persie, Soccer, Netherlands: Arsenel striker Robin van Persie was selected by the Professional Footballers' Association of Great Britain as the Player of the Year in English soccer. The 28-year-old, who is the captain of the London club, scored 39 goals in all competition. In the English Premier League, the Dutchman recorded 35 goals in 46 games.
Bubba Watson, Golf, United States: Bubba Watson won his first major with an incredible shot at the Masters at Augusta National. He hooked a sand wedge off the pine straw, around the trees and onto the 10th green on the course to defeat Louis Oosthuizen. The amazing shot not only landed on the green, but checked up and settled 15 feet away for a par.
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Brittney Griner, Basketball, United States: Brittney Griner and Baylor beat Notre Dame, 80-61, to win the national championship and complete a perfect 40-0 season. Griner had 26 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks in the finals. Griner was blocking layups, snagging rebounds and hitting shots over two and three helpless Irish defenders to earn the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award. The 6-foot-8 junior, who was selected the Associated Press player of the year, saw Notre Dame close within 42-39, but Griner then asserted herself, scoring nine of the next 19 points to help Baylor seal the victory.
Kytra Hunter, Gymnastics, United States: Florida’s Kytra Hunter, a freshman, won the all-around NCAA gymnastics championship title with a collegiate-best 39.725. Hunter also won the vault title. She is the fifth gymnast to win multiple titles as a freshman in the 31-year history of the championships. Hunter scored 9.975 on her vault, 9.95 on her floor exercise, and 9.90 on the balance beam and uneven bars, earning three first-team All-American honors. In the vault final her two jumps led to a winning average of 9.875.
Mary Keitany, Marathon, Kenya: Mary Keitany was the female winner at the London Marathon for the second year in a row. The Kenyan crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 37 seconds. Her winning time is an African record. The Olympic hopeful's performance was also the third fastest female marathon of all time. Keitany pulled away from world champion and fellow Kenyan Edna Kiplagat with 3 miles to go and won by 73 seconds.
Carolina Kostner, Figure Skating, Italy: Carolina Kostner won the World Figure Skating Title held in Nice, France. Kostner had a flawless free skate and the performance was enough to move her from third place to first place and the gold medal. Her free skate score was 128.94 and her overall winning score was 189.94. Kostner, last year’s bronze medalist and the reigning European champion, delivered a graceful performance of mesmerizing steps and spins to win for the first time in her 10th world championship competition.
Anna Meares, Cycling, Australia: Anna Meares set two world records at the World Track Cycling Championships in Melbourne and claimed a record 10 women's world titles in her career. The 28-year-old Meares stormed around the Hisense Arena to win the 500-meter time trial in a world record 33.010 seconds. The Australian also set a world record of 10.782 seconds for the 200-meter flying start. Meares won two gold medals, a silver and a bronze, which included defending her world championship in the women’s keirin race.
Sun Young Yoo, Golf, South Korea: Sun Young Yoo of South Korea won the Kraft Nabisco Championship with an 18-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole. She earned her first major title after I.K. Kim missed a 1-foot putt on the final hole of regulation. Yoo won the LPGA Tour’s first major of the season by shooting a final round 69 to finish at 9 under 279 for the tournament. It was Yoo's second career LPGA Tour victory.
