Arantxa King literally soared to tremendous heights in the year 2005.

The 15 year-old US-based Bermudian long jumper struck it big on the world stage in July when she won the Gold medal competing at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Marrakesh, Morocco - the Island's first-ever medal in the six-year history of the event.

Less than two weeks after that title, King added the Pan American Junior Athletics Gold in the same event.

King, who has qualified for next year's Commonwealth Games and World Juniors, also won a Gold in the Girls Under 17 long jump at April's Carifta Games in Trinidad and Tobago last April.

l Jay Donawa stunned the local athletic community when he threatened to quit the sport after being on the receiving end of “negativity from the public” during the Annual May 24 Bermuda Day Marathon Derby.

However, the 32-year-old ace athlete reconsidered his initial announcement to quit road-running in the wake of his seventh successive runner-up placing in the landmark race.

Otherwise, Donanwa enjoyed, arguably, one of the best years of his careers, clinching a sixth straight Princess to Princess title and was Bermuda's top finisher (third overall) during the International Race Week Half Marathon.

l NFL star Antonio Pierce became Bermuda's highest-paid athlete after signing a $33m five-year contract with the New York Giants.

Middle linebacker Pierce, who father Cleo Burrows lives in Southampton, has helped the Giants reached the play-offs with some superb performances including a game-winning fumble recovery for a touchdown against divisional rivals Dallas, although a high ankle strain appears to have brought his season to a premature conclusion.

l South Africa once again claimed World Rugby Classic honours with another dominant display of entertaining rugby. In front of typically boisterous crowds, the defending champions beat out the Argentinians in an aggressive and hard-fought finale, winning 21-7.

l International Race Weekend, only saved by a Government handout and a $50,000 cheque from philanthropist David Barber, ended in controversy after national coach Gerry Swan got in the way during the sprint finish to the marathon.

Swan obscured signage that gave Moroccan Al Afoui Boubker the victory and sent Kenyan Simon Sawe the wrong way for a few vital steps. The BTFA declared the event a draw.

Marina Bychkova took the female race while popular Russian Dmitry Maximov won his third straight half-marathon crown and second half-marathon/10K double.

Kenyan Elkanah Angwenyi won the Front Street Mile while Ashley Couper, again, claim the women's crown.

l Gymnasts dominated the medals as Bermuda enjoyed a successful Island Games trip to Shetland.

The team of more than 100 athletes claimed more than 40 medals and finished fourth in the medal table - no mean feat considering they didn't send swim or track teams.

Gymnast Kaisey Griffith scooped six golds in her ten-medal haul and the women's soccer team finished in bronze medal position in their first international tournament.

l In squash, the charismatic former World Champion Jonathan Power of Canada won the inaugural Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters thanks to a straight games defeat of Englishman Lee Beachill.

Bermuda professional Nick Kyme, who received a wildcard into the first round of the main draw, fought valiantly against world number one Thierry Lincou of France but was ultimately defeated 11-3, 11-7, 13-11.

The Masters is the second biggest tournament in world squash and formed part of an extraordinary three-year deal agreed between the game's governing body and the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association.

l Bermuda's sole professional boxer Teresa Perozzi had a year to remember as she bludgeoned her way to the WIBC World Middleweight title in Port of Spain, Trinidad, against the formerly undefeated Scroller Carrington.

However her victory was tainted by controversy in the immediate aftermath as legal wrangling saw the WIBC demand their belt back and Perozzi eventually having to settle for the NABC title instead.

lCzech Tomas Zib came from championship point down against Kristof Vliegen to win the XL Capital Bermuda Open at the Coral Beach Club.

After a bizarre day of fantastic tennis, rain, fightbacks, court-cleaning, more rain and plenty of confusion, Zib finally clinched the crown in three sets at around 10.15 p.m. at night in front of just 50 wet but hardy souls.

On the domestic front, English accountant Andrew Bray had his quest for a rare Grand Slam scuppered at the last, thanks to a straight sets defeat to friend and rival James Collieson in the final of the Fairmont Southampton Grand Prix.

Bray had already triumphed in the Heineken, Island Construction and Argus Opens to go with his two Island Games gold medals.

l A new king was crowned on the waters of Hamilton Harbour last October when Australian James Spithill seized line honours in the Investors Guaranty King Edward VII Gold Cup Match Racing Championships.

The 26 year-old Luna Rossa Italian America's Cup helmsman and current world champion edged defending champion and multiple Gold Cup winner Russell Coutts in the thrilling best of five series.

American Sally Barkow, the defending ISAF world champion, clinched win the Virtual Spectator Women's World Match Racing Championships.

April saw Bermudian Olympic Star Class skipper Peter Bromby pip perennial rival and class heavyweight Tim Patton for K.F.Trimingham Trophy among the Etchells during International Race Week in the Great Sound.

American Charles Van Voorhis won the International One Design (IOD) class, while fellow compatriots Anthony Parker, Tom Coates and Michael Irgens captured the J-24's, J-105's and Snipe classes respectively. 2003 Male Athlete of the Year Malcolm Smith won the Laser class.