Slideshows

A definitive look back at the biggest events in sports in 2023

Be Interactive

2024-01-01 00:02:36

Rediscover the highlights of the last 12 months in the world of sport.

Damar Hamlin

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On January 2, NFL player Damar Hamlin suffers cardiac arrest and collapses on the field during an NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Fans gather outside the University of California Medical Center to rescue him, who receives medical attention.

Cristiano Ronaldo

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Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo greets the crowd with his children at the Mrsool Park stadium in the Saudi capital Riyadh on January 3, during his presentation as a player for Al-Nassr. Ronaldo's contract has been estimated by the media at over €200 million ($214.04 million).

Tom Brady

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On February 1, NFL footballer Tom Brady announces his retirement. No one else has won the Super Bowl seven times or been named player of the game five times. His 35 playoff victories are not only a record, but 16 more than his closest rival, the legendary Joe Montana. Nothing attests to his exceptional longevity better than the fact that he is the only player in NFL history to have won a championship in three different decades.

LeBron James

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LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with his mother Gloria James, left, and wife Savannah James, center, and daughter Zhuri James and son Byrce James, right, after breaking Kareem Abdul Jabbar's scoring record (38,387) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 7.

Travis and Jason Kelce

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, embraces his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, after the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII on February 12. This is the first Super Bowl in history where two brothers play on opposite teams.

Mikaël Kingsbury

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Three-time defending world champion, four-time singles winner, holder of seven world crowns in total and the nickname "King of the Moguls", Quebec's Mikaël Kingsbury remained the monarch of freestyle skiing on February 25, thanks to a singles victory at the World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia.

Mikaela Shiffrin

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Mikaela Shiffrin made skiing history on March 12 by becoming the athlete with the most victories in men's and women's alpine skiing. Shiffrin set a new record with her 87th World Cup victory.

Japan

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Shohei Ohtani #16 of Team Japan celebrates with teammates on the field after Team Japan defeated Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic Championship game at LoanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 21 in Miami, Florida.

Justine Dufour-Lapointe

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Justine Dufour-Lapointe ended her first Freeride World Tour season on March 28 with the title of World Champion. Leading after the first four stages, the double Olympic mogul medallist was crowned champion at Bec des Rosses in Switzerland.

Bryce Young

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The Carolina Panthers made Bryce Young their first-ever NFL Draft pick on April 27. The young quarterback received his vest from commissioner Roger Goodell. He became the first player in the history of the University of Alabama to be claimed at the first level of the auction.

Brittney Griner

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Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (#42) handles the ball during the first half of the WNBA game at Footprint Center on May 12 in Phoenix, Arizona. It was her first competitive match since spending nearly 300 days in prison in Russia in 2022.

LIV and PGA

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The two main professional golf circuits, PGA and LIV, announced their merger on June 6. The announcement comes a year after the launch of the LIV circuit. The pact combines the rights and commercial agreements of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) - which supports the LIV circuit - with those of the PGA and its European branches.

Lionel Messi

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On June 7, Lionel Messi announced that his future lay in Major League Soccer (MLS) with Inter Miami CF. The 35-year-old striker, who won the World Cup with Argentina last year, would earn $54 million per season with the Florida club.

Denver Nuggets

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The Denver Nuggets celebrate the first championship in franchise history after defeating the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals on June 13. Bill Russell was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.

Vegas Golden Knights

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On June 13, the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate their victory over the Florida Panthers by winning the Stanley Cup. This is the first title for the young hockey franchise, which entered the NHL in 2017.

Victor Wembanyama

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French center Victor Wembanyama (right) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (left) after being selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft on June 22. Wembanyama's size, combined with his diverse skill set, makes him one of the best prospects most scouts have ever seen.

Connor Bedard

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Connor Bedard speaks to the media after being selected by the Chicago Blackhawks with the first overall pick in the first round of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 28 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Carlos Alcaraz

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Carlos Alcaraz raises his trophy after beating Novak Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon title on July 16. The five-set final lasted almost five hours. Alcaraz, a 20-year-old Spaniard, is the third-youngest Wimbledon champion of the Open era.

Jonas Vingegaard

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Tour de France 2023 winner, yellow jersey Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark and Jumbo - Visma celebrates at the podium ceremony on July 23 after the twenty-first, last and final stage of the 110th Tour de France 2023, a 115km stage from Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines to Paris Champs-Élysées.

Katie Ledecky

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American swimmer Katie Ledecky celebrates her victory in the 800-meter freestyle final at the World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, on Saturday, July 29. Ledecky won her 16th gold medal and surpassed Michael Phelps for the most career individual world swimming titles.

Demi Vollering

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Demi Vollering of the Netherlands celebrates her victory in the Tour de France Women on Sunday, July 30. This is her first Tour de France Femmes title.

Simone Biles

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Star gymnast Simone Biles performs on the uneven bars at the Core Hydration Classic in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, on Saturday, August 5. It was a triumphant return for Biles, competing for the first time since the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. She won the all-around as well as the vault, floor routine and beam.

Neymar Jr.

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After six years of an eventful marriage with PSG, Neymar ended his Parisian adventure on August 15 by signing for Al-Hilal, who offered him a golden bridge to join other stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mané in the rich Saudi league.

Damar Hamlin

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Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Highmark Stadium on August 12. It was his first game since suffering cardiac arrest on the field in January.

Inter Miami FC

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Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team-mates lift the Leagues Cup trophy after winning the final in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday August 19. This is the 44th trophy of Messi's career, making him the most decorated footballer in the history of the sport, according to ESPN.

Spain

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Spanish players celebrate their victory in the final of the Women's Football World Cup on Sunday August 20. Olga Carmona's 29th-minute strike was the only goal in a 1-0 victory over England. This is the first time Spain has won the tournament.

Max Verstappen

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Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates his victory at the Formula 1 Grand Prix of the Netherlands with members of the Red Bull Racing team in Zandvoort, the Netherlands, on Sunday August 27. Verstappen's victory is his eleventh of the season and ninth in a row, tying Sebastian Vettel for the most consecutive wins in F1 history.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

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New record, a volleyball match between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Omaha Mavericks at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Wednesday August 30. The official attendance of 92,003 set the world record for the largest announced crowd at a women's sporting event, according to the school.

Coco Gauff

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Coco Gauff celebrates her victory at the US Open on Saturday, September 9th. It's the first grand slam title for the 19-year-old, and she's the first American teenager to win the US Open since Serena Williams in 1999.

Novak Djokovic

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Novak Djokovic won the US Open trophy in New York on Sunday September 10th. Djokovic has now won 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

Aaron Rodgers

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Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, making his much-anticipated debut with the New York Jets, is hit by Buffalo's Leonard Floyd during an NFL game in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Monday, September 11. Rodgers tore his left Achilles tendon on this play - his fourth of the game - and will miss the rest of the 2023 season.

Miami Dolphins

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Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa celebrates after his team scored a touchdown against the Denver Broncos in Miami on Sunday, September 24. Miami won the game 70-20.

Ronald Acuña Jr.

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Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. reacts after stealing his 70th base of the season during a game against the Chicago Cubs in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday, September 27. Acuña is the only player in Major League Baseball history to steal 70 bases and hit 40 home runs in a single season.

Europe

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Luke Donald, Team Europe captain, and Team Europe players pose with the Ryder Cup trophy after the 16-and-a-half to 11-and-a-half victory during the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on October 01 in Rome, Italy.

Lionel Messi

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Lionel Messi stands on stage with his sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro after winning his eighth men's Ballon d'Or in Paris on Monday, October 30.

Adam Johnson

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Adam Johnson is remembered before the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Anaheim Ducks at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 30 in Pittsburgh. Johnson died, his throat slit during a hockey match on October 28 in England.

Texas Rangers

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The Texas Rangers celebrate their victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks (5-0) in Game 5 of the World Series in Phoenix on Wednesday, November 1. This is the first World Series title in the team's history.

Shohei Ohtani

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On November 16, Shohei Ohtani won his second American League MVP award in three seasons, after being voted unanimously. He became the only player in MLB history to win the unanimous MVP award twice. Ohtani beat out finalists Corey Seager and Marcus Semien of the Texas Rangers.

Montreal Alouettes

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The Montreal Alouettes won the 110th Grey Cup against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on November 19. The game was decided in the final minute, thanks to a Tyson Philpot touchdown with 13 seconds left. Final score 28-24.

Las Vegas

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Formula 1 was back in Las Vegas last November. Max Verstappen scored another victory for Red Bull on November 19. It was the first time F1 had toured the famous Strip. Las Vegas had not hosted motor racing's premier class since 1982.

Max Verstappen

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Race winner Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium during the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 26 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. With his 19th victory in 2023, Max Verstappen, 26, pushed back his own record for most wins in a single year.

Christine Sinclair

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On December 5, Christine Sinclair, Canada's all-time leading international goalscorer, played her last game for Canada in front of 48,112 spectators - the largest crowd for a women's football friendly in Canadian history - not far from her hometown of Burnaby, British Columbia.

Columbus Crew

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Coach Wilfried Nancy's Columbus Crew holds up the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy after winning the MLS Cup 2023 against the Los Angeles FC on December 9 in Columbus, Ohio.

Shohei Ohtani

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Shohei Ohtani reached a new high on December 9 when he accepted the largest contract in the annals of major North American team sports. The contract will pay him $700 million over 10 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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