2023 is coming to an end, but it will still be memorable for millions of sports fans around the world. She left her mark in various sports where history was written with a number of achievements.
Here are 10 of the most significant events in the world of sports in 2023:
1. Debut triumph in the Champions League, treble, five trophies - the year of Manchester City
On June 10, Manchester City beat Inter with the minimum 1:0 in the dispute for the trophy from the most prestigious European club tournament - the Champions League. Spain international Rodri became a hero for the Citizens, who had already lifted the domestic title and triumphed in the FA Cup after success over city rivals United. In doing so, Pep Guardiola's alumni sealed a historic treble - the first for an English club since Manchester United in the 1998/99 season. City didn't stop with the Champions League, claiming two more trophies by the end of the calendar year, winning the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
2. Undisputed Max Verstappen in Formula 1
The 26-year-old Dutchman literally blew away the competition in a record and historic season for himself in the most prestigious car race. Verstappen went on to easily claim a third consecutive world title in his career, winning an impressive 19 out of 22 starts - he did not only celebrate in Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Singapore, and Singapore was the only place where Red Bull did not triumph as a constructor - then victory was for Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz. With his third world crown, Verstappen joined sporting legends such as Ayrton Senna, Niki Lauda and Jackie Stewart. Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher share the top spot with seven titles each.
3. 24th Grand Slam title for Novak Djokovic
The world number 1 continues to make history, winning three of the four Grand Slams in 2023, losing only at Wimbledon in a five-set thriller to super talent Carlos Alcaraz. Nole, whose 24th title came at the US Open, turned 36 in 2023 but did not slow down, ending the year with a record seventh ATP Finals title, overtaking legend Roger Federer. In addition, the Joker finished the season ranked No. 1 in the world for a record eighth time, and at the end of November he also passed the mark of 400 total weeks at the top of men's tennis.
4. LeBron dethroned Kareem
On February 7, LA Lakers basketball superstar LeBron James broke a new record in his remarkable career - "The King" broke the record for the most points in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA), which was held by the legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and was 38,387 points. James crossed the line with a basket late in the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder. LeBron is a four-time NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2016), Miami Heat (2012, 2013) and Lakers (2020).
5. Napoli conquered the top of Serie A for the first time in 33 years
Luciano Spalletti's Napoli side dominated Italy's Serie A and duly ended the country's 33-year title drought, winning by as much as 16 points ahead of second-placed Lazio. With Hvica Kvaratshelia and Victor Osimen in attack, the Partenopei left no doubt about their superiority over the rest of the teams and celebrated their first title since the 1989/90 season, when they became champions with the late Diego Maradona in the squad.
6. First GSH crown for Coco Goff
The talent of the 19-year-old American Coco Goff has been undeniable and clear to everyone for several years. However, the teenager has raised her level of play this year, which has led to a number of victories and titles, the biggest of which came on home soil at the US Open, where she defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the final, who just a day later officially occupied the top among the ladies. Goff handled the pressure in front of a home crowd and early on realized the potential that everyone was talking about after the match with Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2020, when the then 15-year-old American defeated her illustrious compatriot in her first Grand Slam match in the career.
7. Championship rings for the Denver Nuggets
Led by two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets deservedly triumphed for the first time in their history. In the final, the Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat in five games after the two teams traded one success in the opening two games in the Denver hall, before the Nuggets went on a three-game winning streak. Jokic was named Finals MVP with 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game, shooting over 58% from the field and about 42% from three.
8. Spain Women's World Title
The FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July-August broke several records for attendance and viewership, with Spain celebrating the title after beating England 1-0 in the final in Sydney. However, their success was overshadowed by a scandal in which the former president of the Football Federation of Spain, Luis Rubiales, got involved, he allowed himself to kiss the player of the new world champions, Jenny Hermoso, on the mouth.
9. Mikaela Shiffrin passed the legend Ingemar Stenmark
Mikaela Shiffrin, one of the best female skiers in history, broke a record she had been chasing for a long time and dreamed of improving. On March 11, she triumphed in her favorite discipline, slalom, winning in Ore, Sweden, home of legend Ingemar Stenmark, who held the record for most World Cup wins with 86. Two days later, however, the 28-year-old was done the job following a triumph earlier in the giant slalom to match the Swede's record and then a slalom victory. The American continues to ride at a very high level, with 100 certainly in her sights.
10. South Africa celebrate a record fourth rugby world title
South Africa's rugby players once again showed what they are made of after forging a record fourth world title from as many finals appearances with a lot of character and fight. The Springboks reveled in the trophy challenge against one of their biggest rivals over the years, New Zealand, in a heart-pounding final that finished 12-11. Before that, the team made hosts France and England cry back-to-back in dramatic encounters again by one point. /BGNES
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Stefan Ignatov, Sports Department of BGNES
