Jeff Buttle came through in the clutch to give Canada its first men's figure-skating world title in over a decade. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)Jeff Buttle (figure skating): The 25-year-old from Smooth Rock Falls, Ont., won the men's world figure skating championship in March, combining a silky short program with a clutch personal-best performance in the free skate to beat out a deep field in Sweden. It was the first time a Canadian skated to the men's world title since Elvis Stojko in 1997.
Carol Huynh (wrestling): Canadians were getting restless on Day 8 of the Beijing Olympics as the country searched for its first medal. Huynh, of Hazelton, B.C., came to the rescue, beating Japan's Icho Chiharu to win gold in the 48-kilogram women's freestyle event. With that prize as a springboard, Canada went on to capture a respectable 18 medals.
Daniel Nestor (tennis): With the help of new teammate Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia, Toronto's Nestor won Wimbledon to complete the career Grand Slam in men's doubles. He and Zimonjic also claimed the prestigious Hamburg Masters and Queen's Club titles, and reached the final of the French Open.
Justin Morneau (baseball): The big first baseman from New Westminster, B.C., clubbed 23 homers and knocked in 129 runs while batting an even .300 for Minnesota. Those numbers nearly won Morneau his second American League MVP award (he was the runner-up to Boston's Dustin Pedroia) and almost propelled the Twins into the post-season (they lost a one-game playoff to the Chicago White Sox).
Eric Lamaze (equestrian): Atop his superb mount Hickstead, Lamaze captured Canada's first Olympic equestrian gold in 40 years, taking first prize in individual show jumping in Beijing. Quite a comeback for a former cocaine user who'd twice been booted from the Olympic team for failing drug tests, and had even contemplated suicide.
