Rugby union

"We have so many problems in our country but a team like this, we come from different backgrounds, different races but we came together with one goal and we wanted to achieve it."

Siya Kolisi, South Africa's first black Test captain on the Springboks' run to World Cup glory

"In South Africa pressure is not having a job. Pressure is one of your close relatives being murdered."

Rassie Erasmus, South Africa's World Cup-winning head coach, eloquently putting the pressure of his job into perspective

Soccer

"I think I'm particularly, uniquely and very deeply American."

Megan Rapinoe, Team USA's World Cup-winning superstar, whose insistence that she would not visit the White House if invited brought her into conflict with US President Donald Trump

Rapinoe "should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job!"

Trump on Twitter

"This is only the start."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, after the Reds' Champions League final win over Tottenham

"Humble."

Jose Mourinho, after the acrimony that defined his Manchester United reign, Mourinho arrived as Tottenham's new manager saying he had learnt from his mistakes and wanted to bring happiness to Spurs

Formula One

"Not bad for a boy from a Stevenage council house."

A proud Anthony Hamilton, after son Lewis secured his sixth world championship

Cycling

"It's team, team, team, get up, see the doctor, have breakfast, ride the race, get a massage, physio and sleep. Then repeat."

Egan Bernal, painting a mundane picture of life as Colombia's first Tour de France champion

Athletics

"The message that no human is limited is now in everybody's mind."

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, after making history by smashing the mythical two-hour barrier for the marathon on a crisp autumnal morning in Vienna

Horse racing

"He is a once-in-a-lifetime horse who has given us a twice-in-a-lifetime experience."

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, succinctly summing up his thoughts after his Irish-bred racehorse put his name alongside the legendary Red Rum by winning back-to-back Grand Nationals

Swimming

"I'm not in this sport to beat out one guy. I know the comparisons are going to be made, but for me, it's all from within what I feel like I am capable of doing."

Caeleb Dressel, on expectations that he will beat Michael Phelps' single-Games Olympic record of eight gold medals in Tokyo next year, after the American became the first male swimmer to win eight medals, including six gold, at July's world championships

Tennis

"I'm the loser both times, so that's the only similarity I see."

Roger Federer, on losing to Novak Djokovic in this year's Wimbledon final compared to his 2008 loss to Rafa Nadal in another SW19 classic