Socceroos

His dad left Africa to explore the world, and Bruce Djite has loved seeing that sense of adventure in his own kids.

'I gave up. I stopped fighting. Everything went peaceful and quiet under the water. I got ready to just let it happen.'

Obstacles are part of life. But the ability to triumph nonetheless is a story worth celebrating.

Graham Arnold paid players out of his own pocket when the cash-strapped Central Coast Mariners hit hard times. And that wasn't the only time Arnie stunned Maty Ryan.

Personal challenges, injuries, financial struggles – these are some of the remarkable stories of resilience athletes have revealed in 2018.

Few athletes are born great. What sets them apart from others is quite often their ability to deal with – and triumph over – adversity.

From Sandpaper-gate, to Israel Folau, to Tiger Woods' comeback, it has been an extraordinary year for sports newsmakers around the world.

The club refused to release him. The coach refused to play him. This was not how Socceroo Craig Goodwin envisaged his career unfolding in Europe.

'When I came back in the laces out of my shoes were gone.' Young Socceroo Ben Folami knows all about the cut-throat world of professional football in England.

When ex-Bundesliga player Patrick Ziegler and his dad sat at home watching Germany vs Australia, his dad wore a Socceroos jersey.