Winning hurts: When passion is bigger than pain

Sportspeople get injured — it's an unwelcome part of the job. But some refuse to let injury stop them from immortal glory. From broken bones to soft-tissue savagery, these are the heroes who live by 'no pain, no gain'.

Chris Simms

Image: Flickr/Jeffrey Beall

NFL season is upon us, and the chance to see some of the biggest guys in sport in some truly bone-shaking tackles. Despite the helmets and padding, injuries are still worryingly common.

In a 2006 game against the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers' quarterback Chris Simms took some heavy hits in the lead-up to half time. Determined to play through the pain, Simms made short trips off-field during the second half, but finished on the field. After the final whistle, he headed to the hospital for what turned out to be life-saving surgery.

The Buccs lost the game, and Simms lost five pints of blood and a major organ. He had been playing with a ruptured spleen, and with no way to repair it, had it removed.

Simms' refusal to quit elevated him to iconic status among NFL fans, and no doubt helped him on his way to a broadcasting career.

Sam Burgess

When the Rabbitohs took on the Bulldogs in the 2014 NRL grand final, it was all eyes on Sam Burgess. The Englishman — like the rest of the Bunnies' line-up — was playing his first grand ginal for a club that had won more premierships than any other, but were on a 43-year drought.

When Burgess came off second best in the game's opening tackle, fans feared the worst — and they were right to worry. Scans after the game revealed a fractured cheekbone and eye socket.

Burgess played the rest of the game, however, helping South Sydney secure the win, and earning him man of the match and a reputation as a club legend.

Graeme Smith

Image: Facebook/Graeme Smith Official

South African cricket captain Graeme Smith stunned both fans and teammates in the 2009 Test against Australia at the SCG. Smith walked out nursing a broken hand to face Mitchell Johnson to save the third and final Test - despite the Proteas securing the series.

The batsman was determined to give the Aussies nothing, and he almost did. Smith was bowled by Johnson — who caused his injury in the previous innings — with under two overs left in the match.

Smith faced what must have been the most difficult 17 balls of his career, and earned enormous respect. Aussie captain Ricky Ponting labelled his effort as one of the bravest things he had ever seen.

Tiger Woods

The 2008 US Open was not expected to end well for Tiger Woods. Starting outside the favourites, he was returning from injury and was clearly not physically at his peak.

Against the odds, the American beat countryman Rocco Mediate in a sudden death playoff, winning his third US Open and 14^th major championship. The remarkable win was compounded when Woods revealed he had been playing with a double fracture in his left leg and a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The victory was the last US Open win for Woods to date. He started as favourite in the 2012 competition, but finished a disappointing 21^st (tied with five others). With subsequent off-course controversies and recent talk of retirement, the 2008 victory may stand as his major swansong.

Franz Beckenbauer

Image: Facebook/Viva_ballon

Football gets a bad rap with diving somewhat prevalent, and tactically ingrained. It wasn't always like this.

Playing for West Germany against Italy in the 1970 World Cup, defender Franz Beckenbauer was fouled in the second half, resulting in a serious shoulder injury.

Having used their allotted substitutes, the Germans patched up Beckenbauer and sent him back on for what turned out to be a 4-3 loss after 30 minutes of extra time. Post-match examination revealed the injury to be a broken clavicle (collarbone) and a dislocated shoulder.

The match — often called 'The Game of the Century' —was a semi-final, and the loss cost the German team a shot at the cup. They went on to beat Uruguay in the third-place playoff, while Italy lost to Brazil in the final. Beckenbauer's status as a tough guy remains to this day.

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