Jessica Fox ranks No.1 on the list of top 10 female athletes of 2018

It was a massive year in women’s sport where world titles were won, records were broken and barriers were smashed. Here’s the top 10 performers of 2018.

• Steph Gilmore's next challenge
• Jess Fox’s golden 24 hours

You know it’s a special year when Ellyse Perry can’t crack our list of the top 10 female athletes of 2018.

Perry’s having a golden run in the WBBL, whacking 100s at will, guiding her side to victory, and showing why she’s one of the world’s great athletes.

It was a massive year in which world titles were won, records were broken and barriers were smashed.

The acknowledgments for their achievements are starting to follow, too, whether that’s with equal pay and prizemoney or taking out top awards.

Here’s the 2018 top 10 and they are sure to deliver even more this year.

1. Jessica Fox — paddling

A two-time Olympian and daughter of two former champions, Fox was unstoppable in 2018 — and in one extraordinary 24-hour period, in particular. At the world championships in Rio, she broke British-born father Richard’s record as the most successful individual paddler of all time with a world title in the K1. A day later with a matching world title in the C1, she overtook French mother and coach Myriam to become the most successful female paddler in history. She now has an extraordinary eight individual titles and one team title.

Jessica Fox brokes records set by her father and mother. Picture: Getty Images

2. Alyssa Healy — cricket

She was unstoppable at the Women’s World T20 in the West Indies in November. The Australian opener took out three player-of-the-match awards as well as player of the tournament as she consistently put on runs. Scoring three half-centuries and a 48, plus a handy 20 in the final, Healy was a crucial part of Australia’s overall victory.

MAJOR AWARD: For Aussie cricketer

3 Stephanie Gilmore — surfing

Stephanie Gilmore matched the legendary Layne Beachley’s record of seven world titles at the Maui Pro to become the only surfer on the world tour with the realistic ability to challenge Kelly Slater’s record of 11.

TRIBUTE: Steph Gilmore’s special motivation

But it was a long time between drinks for Gilmore, who had won her sixth world title in 2014. Gilmore credited a close second to fellow Australian Tyler Wright as providing the motivation for her crown. Her new goals are to win an eighth world title next year and qualify for surfing’s debut at the Tokyo Olympics.

Stephanie Gilmore has her eye on an eighth world title.

4. Wendy Tuck — sailing

The first woman to win a round-the-world race. She grew up in Sydney’s west, miles from the ocean, and only took up the sport in her 20s. She won the Clipper round-the-world race on Sanya Serenity Coast in her second attempt. She was also the first woman to achieve the feat in the 40,000 nautical mile race and lead home a female one-two in the nine-month race around the world, which included the last Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

WINDS OF CHANGE: Wendy sails into history

5. Cate Campbell — swimming

An incredible comeback from an Olympic campaign in 2016 that depleted Campbell emotionally. Displaying a strength most don’t go close to possessing, Campbell worked through anxieties and doubt to return to the pool and win three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. Five at the Pan Pacs showed she was well into preparations for the Tokyo Olympics.

Cate Campbell won three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. Picture: Delly Carr/Swimming Australia

6. Sam Kerr — football

She may not have taken out a gong from the many she was nominated for but Sam Kerr continued her stunning form in 2018 at all levels of football. That’s why FFA was swift in stumping up the cash to keep her in Australia this W-League when it heard she was on the verge of signing with a European club. She became the first marquee female player in the Australian league, putting her alongside the likes of Alessandro del Piero, Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill. Kerr’s efforts on and off the field have her now sitting as one of Australia’s greatest athletes going around.

7. Isabelle Kelly — rugby league

It was an incredible year for Isabelle Kelly. Club, state and international football fields were her playground. A player-of-the-match performance in the inaugural women’s State of Origin was backed up by her consistently being one of the Sydney Roosters’ best. She then sealed a last-gasp win for the Jillaroos in the end-of-season Test against the Kiwis and was the first female Golden Boot winner. It was a well-deserved award.

Isabelle Kelly starred at club, state and international level. Picture: AAP

8. Minjee Lee — golf

The first female to win the Greg Norman Medal for best-performing golfer in Australia. The award has been given since 2015 and Jason Day and Marc Leishman are previous winners. Lee beat both men for the award this year. It came after she took her world ranking from 19th to sixth during 2018, helped by 13 top-10 finishes.

9 Tia Toomey — crossfit/weightlifting

Fittest woman on earth. Twice. Tia Toomey is a machine who kept running at full speed in 2018. She took out the CrossFit Games title in 2017, then backed it up in 2018 with a dominant performance in the five-day event. She finished with two wins from 14 events and in the top 10 13 times. She also posted faster times than the men in the 500m swim, 1000m paddle and 2000m run. On top of all that, she won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 58kg weightlifting early in the year, which she did just a week after her cousin died in a car accident. What a star.

10. Stephanie Morton — track cycling

She’s tipped to finish her career as decorated as Anna Meares and 2018 was a booster towards that. She took silver in the sprint at the world championships in March. Her performance at the Commonwealth Games really stood out, though. She collected three gold medals from the Gold Coast; in the team and individual sprints, as well as keirin. She’s proving to be more than just the next Meares and has Tokyo gold in her sights.

Originally published as Jessica Fox ranks No.1 on the list of top 10 female athletes of 2018