World's top 10 athletes in 2004 selected

Following are the world's top 10 athletes in 2004 selected by the Xinhua News Agency on Tuesday:

1. Michael Schumacher, Germany:

The 35-year-old German won a record seventh world title in the Formula One world championships in 2004. He won 13 races out of 18 in the year to extend his Grand Prix victories to 83.

2. Liu Xiang, China:

Liu, 21, became the first Chinese man to win an Olympic track and field gold medal in history. He won the 110m hurdles in a world record-equaling time of 12.91 seconds in Athens.

3. Michael Phelps, United States:

The 19-year-old swimmer won six gold medals and two bronzes in the Athens Olympic Games to become the most-gold medalled athlete in the Games. He also broke one world record in Athens.

4. Lance Armstrong, United States:

The 33-year-old cyclist, who recovered from a testicle cancer a few years ago, became the first one to win six Tour de France champions on July 25.

5. Roger Federer, Switzerland:

Federer, 23, collected 11 victories in 2004, including three Grand Slams (Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open) and the season-ending Masters Cup. The world number one was the first player since 1988 to win three Grand Slams in a calendar year.

6. Zhang Yining, China:

The Chinese table tennis player won two gold medals in the women's singles and doubles events at the Athens Olympics Games.

7. Ronaldinho, Brazil:

The Brazil forward is the catalyst of Barcelona's rise in the past year. He was also voted FIFA's Footballer of the Year in 2004.

8. Kitajima Kosuku, Japan:

The Japanese won two breaststroke gold medals in the men's 100m and 200m events in the Athens Olympic Games.

9. Birgit Fischer, Germany:

The 42-year-old made a stunning comeback from retirement before the Athens Olympic Games and won her eighth Olympic gold medal in the women's fours canoeing event at her sixth Olympics, where she also got a pairs silver.

10. Kenenisa Bekele, Ethiopia:

Beckle won the gold medal in the men's 10,000m and the silver in the 5,000m in the Olympic Games.

The 22-year-old, who broke the men's 5,000m and 10,000 world records early this year, also won the 5,000m title in the world indoor championships in February and claimed his third successive title in the world cross country championships.