back    

	ANYTHING YOU CAN DO.........
	They grow up together - and then continue their childhood rivalry as adults. Oliver Irish salutes sport's most remarkable siblings List Includes The Klitschko Brothers - Wladimir and Vitali Nationality: Ukrainian, Sport: Boxing, Heyday: Now   By Oliver Irish Guardian Unlimited Observer Sport, UK Sunday January 12, 2003   The Williams sisters - Venus and Serena Nationality: American Sport: Tennis Heyday: The 21st century   On court, Venus, 22, and Serena, 21, have much in common - a brutal serve, sublime athleticism and groundstrokes which would grace the men's tour. Off court, though, the sisters go their own way. In Venus's words, 'Serena's pretty much an extrovert character and I'm an introvert. She likes to go out, party, make friends. Whereas me, I like being at home, hanging out with Bobby [her pet Yorkshire terrier], reading books...' Neither lifestyle has affected the brilliance of the pair's tennis - between them they have won four of the last five grand slams, although Serena has outgrown big sis in the last year.   The Schumacher brothers - Michael and Ralf Nationality: German Sport: Motor racing Heyday: Now and (seemingly) forever...   Michael, 34, is clearly the better driver of the pair, although baby brÀder Ralf, 27, has the consolation of being better looking - Michael is blessed with what you might call an aerodynamic chin (maybe this explains his edge on the racetrack?). However you think of them, though, there is no doubt that they are the quickest, most talented brothers ever to compete in motor racing. Michael is a five-time world champion and Ralf is a world champion in the making. But despite their natural rivalry within F1 - Michael drives for Ferrari, Ralf for BMW Williams - Ralf has claimed that there is little bad blood between the pair: 'When I was growing up and racing karts, the generation gap of seven years between us seemed bigger. These days we share more interests than we differ over.' We believe you Ralf.   The Frost twins - Kathryn and Bryony Nationality: English Sport: Athletics Heyday: 2005-2010?   Bryony and Kathryn Frost have a long road to travel before they shed the inevitable label of 'the Kournikovas of athletics' but, at 18, they have time on their side. Born just 15 minutes apart, the diminutive (5ft1in) twins are currently ranked one and two among UK juniors in the women's 2,000m steeplechase, an event which will gain recognition at the 2005 World Athletic Championships in Helsinki - by which time they should be approaching their prime. Although, as Kathryn points out, having a near-identical sister can cause its problems: 'I was in a department store and thought I saw Bryony walking towards me, and I walked head first into a floor-to-ceiling mirror.' No, it's not always easy being a twin.   The Grace brothers - WG and EM Nationality: English Sport: Cricket Heyday: The late 19th century   Dr Henry Grace, himself a useful batsman, had five boys, but EM and especially WG stood out in terms of cricketing ability. EM (Edward Mills), like many in his family, was a glorious eccentric. He had four wives and sired 18 children; he also had a fiery temper - a trait he shared with WG - and was not adverse to taking on barrackers in the crowd. EM might also have been considered the finest all-rounder of the 19th century (Wisden once described him as 'the most dangerous bat in England') were it not for the overshadowing talents of his younger brother. WG (William Gilbert) was the most impressive of all the Graces, both in terms of facial hair and cricketing ability, and he is fully deserving of his reputation as the father of cricket. In a 43-year career, he scored an astounding 54,896 first-class runs, including 126 centuries. Both EM and WG played in the first Test on English soil, against Australia at The Oval in 1880. EM was 40 at the time - past his best - and it was to prove his only Test cap. WG, eight years younger, also had his best years behind him, but he went on to play 22 Tests. The youngest Grace brother, Fred, also played in that Test. But ill-health cut short a promising career - he died two weeks after his Test debut, from a congestion of the lungs, aged just 29.   The Klitschko brothers - Wladimir and Vitali Nationality: Ukrainian Sport: Boxing Heyday: Now   Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko both speak four languages, hold advanced degrees and play a mean game of chess. They love their mum too, which is why you'll never see them together in the same ring: 'We don't want to break our mother's heart by hitting each other,' Wladimir has said. Aaaah. The giant brothers (Vitali stands 6ft8in, Wladimir 6ft6in) may come across like they stumbled into the wrong sport, but they are poised to play a major part in the future of the heavyweight division. And they are no mere Great White Hypes. Vitali, 31, is scheduled to fight Lennox Lewis in March, while Wladimir, 26, currently holds the WBO world heavyweight belt. The brothers dream of being world champions at the same time, but Vitali will probably find Lewis too strong. Wladimir, however, is considered the better fighter and could finish off the job his brother started.   The Neville family - Gary, Phil and Tracey Nationality: English Sport: Football (Gary and Phil), netball (Tracey) Heyday: Good question   There is a two-word solution to ensuring a bright future for English sport - Neville Neville. Simply capture the wonderfully-named father of Gary, Phil and Tracey, and breed from him; in other words, use the great man's genes to create a new generation of Garys, Phils and Traceys. OK, maybe not Phil, but you take my point. English netball star Tracey is, arguably, more successful than her famous brothers - although her profile is considerably lower. And despite their many critics, Gary and Phil's enduring success at Manchester United is a remarkable achievement. On a lighter note, the brothers have also inspired one of the best chants in football (sung to the tune of David Bowie's 'Rebel Rebel'): 'Neville Neville, they're in defence, Neville Neville , their future's immense. Neville Neville , they ain't half bad, Neville Neville, the name of their dad.' Genius.   The Underwood brothers - Rory and Tony Nationality: English Sport: Rugby union Heyday: Late 80s/90s   Having an older brother is a tough gig - especially so if he's a dashing RAF pilot and record-breaking try-scorer, as Rory Underwood was. 'Whether others compare me with Rory, I don't know,' Tony once said. 'I compare myself with myself.' Which is nonsense, but at the same time could have been the words of Confucius ('The wise man, he compares himself against himself...'). Tony, like Rory a winger blessed with searing pace, did eventually escape his brother's shadow - in 1992 the Underwoods became the first pair of brothers to play together in an England team since the Wheatleys, Arthur and Harold, in 1938. Guardian Unlimited Observer Sport, UK http://www.observer.co.uk/osm/story/0,6903,870750,00.html For personal and academic use only ArtUkraine.com Information Service (ARTUIS)

   back