YEAR END
Sporting highlights of 2022
December 31, 2022 - A look back at some of the international sports events and personalities that made headlines in 2022. Key events included the Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, and Argentina winning their first FIFA World Cup since 1986 in Qatar. Individuals hitting the heights included Eileen Gu, Max Verstappen conquering F1 for a second successive season, rising tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, golfers Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas, athlete Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and the England women’s team winning UEFA Euro 2022.
JANUARY
29-30 Rafael Nadal clinches 21st major at Australian Open. Ashleigh Barty is first Australian to win home Slam since 1978.
FEBRUARY
4 Beijing hosts Winter Olympics, staged on artificial snow.
6 Senegal win first international trophy at Africa Cup of Nations.
13 Los Angeles Rams score late touchdown in Super Bowl to beat Cincinnati.
MARCH
23 World No.1 Ashleigh Barty announces shock retirement from tennis, aged 26.
APRIL
11 World No.1 Scottie Scheffler clinches first golf major at U.S. Masters.
23 Justin Thomas overhauls 7-shot deficit to win U.S. PGA Championship.
MAY
22 Man City, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Bayern Munich win Europe’s top soccer leagues.
28 Real Madrid beat Liverpool to claim 14th European Cup inspired by Karim Benzema, who later wins Ballon d’Or.
JUNE
5 Rafael Nadal extends Grand Slam records with 14th title at Roland Garros.
9 Inauguration of Saudi-backed breakaway LIV league sparks civil war in golf.
17 Golden State Warriors beat Boston Celtics to claim fourth NBA title in eight years.
28 Colorado Avalanche celebrate third NHL Stanley Cup title.
JULY
17 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce wins record fifth 100m title at World Athletics Championships.
31 Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten wins inaugural Tour de France Femmes.
31 England win UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, beating Germany 2-1 in extra time.
AUGUST
20 Oleksandr Usyk retains heavyweight boxing titles, beating Anthony Joshua in split decision.
SEPTEMBER
11 Carlos Alcaraz, 19, of Spain wins U.S. Open, and becomes youngest ever No.1 player in men’s tennis.
23 Tennis icons Serena Williams and Roger Federer retire within three weeks of each other.
OCTOBER
9 Max Verstappen clinches second consecutive F1 title in record-breaking season.
NOVEMBER
5 Houston Astros beat Philadelphia Phillies to win MLB World Series.
6 Francesco Bagnaia wins first MotoGP title.
12 New Zealand beat England to win women’s Rugby World Cup.
19 Australia win both men’s and women’s Rugby League World Cup crowns.
20 Qatar becomes first Middle Eastern country to host FIFA World Cup, estimated to cost up to $220bn.
DECEMBER
19 Lionel Messi hoists World Cup trophy as Argentina win first title since 1986.