• Tiger Woods: Two years ago he told golfing legend Jack Nicklaus "I'm done" before undergoing spinal surgery. Now Woods has succeeded in what many thought was impossible by winning his fifth Masters and first major in 11 years. The triumph completed a remarkable comeback for Woods following years of surgeries and personal problems that convinced many that the American would never again win one of golf's four majors. Reuters
    Tiger Woods: Two years ago he told golfing legend Jack Nicklaus "I'm done" before undergoing spinal surgery. Now Woods has succeeded in what many thought was impossible by winning his fifth Masters and first major in 11 years. The triumph completed a remarkable comeback for Woods following years of surgeries and personal problems that convinced many that the American would never again win one of golf's four majors. Reuters
  • Monica Seles: She looked poised to rule women's tennis in the early 1990s, becoming the youngest woman to reach the world No 1 in 1991 before winning three out of four grand slam singles titles in 1992 with victories at the Australian, French and US Open. In 1993 she again looked set to dominate, opening the year by winning the Australian Open with a defeat of German rival Steffi Graf. In April, however, Seles was stabbed by a deranged spectator while playing at a tournament in Hamburg. Although she soon recovered from her injuries, Seles would not play for two more years. She returned in 1995, and the following year she won her 10th and last grand slam singles title with victory at the Australian Open. Getty Images
    Monica Seles: She looked poised to rule women's tennis in the early 1990s, becoming the youngest woman to reach the world No 1 in 1991 before winning three out of four grand slam singles titles in 1992 with victories at the Australian, French and US Open. In 1993 she again looked set to dominate, opening the year by winning the Australian Open with a defeat of German rival Steffi Graf. In April, however, Seles was stabbed by a deranged spectator while playing at a tournament in Hamburg. Although she soon recovered from her injuries, Seles would not play for two more years. She returned in 1995, and the following year she won her 10th and last grand slam singles title with victory at the Australian Open. Getty Images
  • Alex Zanardi: The American driver was involved in a horrific crash in the American Memorial 500 CART race in 2001 which resulted in him having both legs amputated. However, he returned to racing in the FIA World Touring Car Championship less than two years later and then became a gold medallist at the 2016 Paralympic Games in para cycling. Getty Images
    Alex Zanardi: The American driver was involved in a horrific crash in the American Memorial 500 CART race in 2001 which resulted in him having both legs amputated. However, he returned to racing in the FIA World Touring Car Championship less than two years later and then became a gold medallist at the 2016 Paralympic Games in para cycling. Getty Images
  • Muhammad Ali: After refusing to be inducted into the US army in 1966, the world heavyweight champion was effectively banned from boxing for three years as sanctioning bodies across the US refused to grant him a licence. The ban meant Ali missed some of the peak years of his career. He attempted to regain his title in 1971's "Fight of the Century" against Joe Frazier but suffered the first defeat of his career. In 1974, Ali was given no chance as he attempted to regain his title against George Foreman in the "Rumble of the Jungle". But the then-32-year-old Ali pulled off one of the great upsets by confounding Foreman with his "rope-a-dope" tactics before scoring an eighth round knockout. He would go on to win the world heavyweight championship for a third time in February 1978 with a unanimous decision over Leon Spinks. Getty Images
    Muhammad Ali: After refusing to be inducted into the US army in 1966, the world heavyweight champion was effectively banned from boxing for three years as sanctioning bodies across the US refused to grant him a licence. The ban meant Ali missed some of the peak years of his career. He attempted to regain his title in 1971's "Fight of the Century" against Joe Frazier but suffered the first defeat of his career. In 1974, Ali was given no chance as he attempted to regain his title against George Foreman in the "Rumble of the Jungle". But the then-32-year-old Ali pulled off one of the great upsets by confounding Foreman with his "rope-a-dope" tactics before scoring an eighth round knockout. He would go on to win the world heavyweight championship for a third time in February 1978 with a unanimous decision over Leon Spinks. Getty Images
  • Lindsey Vonn: Considered one of the greatest skiers of all time, the American suffered multiple broken bones and joint ruptures from high speed crashes on the slopes but kept returning. She holds the women's record of 82 World Cup wins, and has finally decided her body can go on no longer in competitive skiing. Getty Images
    Lindsey Vonn: Considered one of the greatest skiers of all time, the American suffered multiple broken bones and joint ruptures from high speed crashes on the slopes but kept returning. She holds the women's record of 82 World Cup wins, and has finally decided her body can go on no longer in competitive skiing. Getty Images
  • George Foreman: The American had faded into obscurity after his stunning defeat to Muhammad Ali in the "Rumble in the Jungle" in 1974, fighting six more times before retiring in 1977 after a defeat to Jimmy Young. But in 1987 he confounded the boxing world by returning to the ring at the age of 40, fighting in a series of low-key bouts at a time when Mike Tyson ruled the division. He failed with his first attempt to regain a world title when he was beaten by Evander Holyfield on points in 1991. However three years later Foreman was on top of the world, defeating Michael Moorer by knockout to claim the title 20 years after he had last held it. At 45 he was the oldest ever heavyweight world champion. Getty Images
    George Foreman: The American had faded into obscurity after his stunning defeat to Muhammad Ali in the "Rumble in the Jungle" in 1974, fighting six more times before retiring in 1977 after a defeat to Jimmy Young. But in 1987 he confounded the boxing world by returning to the ring at the age of 40, fighting in a series of low-key bouts at a time when Mike Tyson ruled the division. He failed with his first attempt to regain a world title when he was beaten by Evander Holyfield on points in 1991. However three years later Foreman was on top of the world, defeating Michael Moorer by knockout to claim the title 20 years after he had last held it. At 45 he was the oldest ever heavyweight world champion. Getty Images
  • Niki Lauda: The Austrian driver appeared to be cruising to a second Formula One drivers' title in 1976 when disaster struck at the German Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring. Lauda's Ferrari swerved off the track and struck an embankment, before exploding in flames. He was trapped in the wreckage and suffered severe burns before being pulled to safety. Incredibly, he returned to racing 43 days later at the Italian Grand Prix. He would go on to win two more drivers' championships before retiring. Getty Images
    Niki Lauda: The Austrian driver appeared to be cruising to a second Formula One drivers' title in 1976 when disaster struck at the German Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring. Lauda's Ferrari swerved off the track and struck an embankment, before exploding in flames. He was trapped in the wreckage and suffered severe burns before being pulled to safety. Incredibly, he returned to racing 43 days later at the Italian Grand Prix. He would go on to win two more drivers' championships before retiring. Getty Images
  • James Cracknell: Winner of two Olympic gold medals for Great Britain at rowing, his physical feats were almost ended when in 2010 he was knocked off his bike by a lorry in the US and suffered a fractured skull. The lasting impact was memory loss and a change in personality, but earlier this month he became the oldest person to compete in the Cambridge-Oxford Boat Race at 46-years-old – and his Cambridge team won. Getty Images
    James Cracknell: Winner of two Olympic gold medals for Great Britain at rowing, his physical feats were almost ended when in 2010 he was knocked off his bike by a lorry in the US and suffered a fractured skull. The lasting impact was memory loss and a change in personality, but earlier this month he became the oldest person to compete in the Cambridge-Oxford Boat Race at 46-years-old – and his Cambridge team won. Getty Images
  • Babe Didrikson Zaharias: As well as winning 31 golf tournaments she also excelled at athletics, winning Olympic gold in track and field. Her last seven golfing wins – including the 1954 Women’s Open - came after she was diagnosed with cancer and had a colostomy. She won twice more in 1955 but died in 1956 aged 45. Getty Images
    Babe Didrikson Zaharias: As well as winning 31 golf tournaments she also excelled at athletics, winning Olympic gold in track and field. Her last seven golfing wins – including the 1954 Women’s Open - came after she was diagnosed with cancer and had a colostomy. She won twice more in 1955 but died in 1956 aged 45. Getty Images
  • Lance Armstrong: His was, for a time, the greatest sporting comeback story, until he finally owned up and admitted to being a drugs cheat. After being treated in 1996 for advanced testicular cancer for which he was given a low chance of survival, he returned to cycling to win seven Tour de France titles between 1999 and 2005. After years of denials, in 2013 he confessed to doping to win all of his titles. He was subsequently stripped of all his Tour wins. Getty Images
    Lance Armstrong: His was, for a time, the greatest sporting comeback story, until he finally owned up and admitted to being a drugs cheat. After being treated in 1996 for advanced testicular cancer for which he was given a low chance of survival, he returned to cycling to win seven Tour de France titles between 1999 and 2005. After years of denials, in 2013 he confessed to doping to win all of his titles. He was subsequently stripped of all his Tour wins. Getty Images

Sport

Tiger Woods and the 10 greatest sporting comebacks of all time

The golfer pulled off one of the most remarkable feats seen across all sports in years to win the 83rd Masters at Augusta on Sunday

The National

April 15, 2019

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