What are the five top sport stories of 2023 so far?
By Wayne Gardiner 22/06/2023With 2023 at the half way mark, in what has been another year of huge news moments, we look back at what have been the five top sports stories of the year so far.
Deputy Sports Editor for PA Media, Wayne Gardner gives us his lowdown on what he sees as the big stories that have dominated sport in 2023.
1. Man City win the treble
After several years of trying and near-misses, Manchester City finally landed their holy grail when they won the Champions League, beating Inter Milan in Istanbul. Not only that, winning the trophy made them just the second English team to win the Treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. Our Manchester City reporter Andy Hampson was with them every step of the way, from the Etihad to Istanbul.
Read the story on PA Explore: https://explore.pa.media/ready/story/a1824a59-4e1e-4add-bc9b-2060ba3f2e1b
2. Nadal announces retirement plans
It’s been a huge year for tennis so far, with Novak Djokovic continuing to dominate, Andy Murray mounting another thrilling comeback to the top and a number of British women showing Emma Raducanu isn’t the only player capable of making a mark on the world stage. The biggest, and perhaps saddest, news of the year, though, was 22-time Slam winner Rafael Nadal announcing next season will be his last, while playing in 2023 looks an unlikely prospect. Tennis correspondent Eleanor Crooks has followed both his career and the story throughout.
Read the story on PA Explore: https://explore.pa.media/ready/story/42af090a-8fb9-4f0b-b75c-86636bcdb6cd
3. Chelsea retain WSL title
The most recent WSL season was the most anticipated and watched in history as women’s football bathed in the glory of England winning the European Championships last summer. Reporter Rachel Steinberg will follow them to Australia and New Zealand this summer as they look to add the World Cup to their cabinet, and they will do so with a side featuring a number of Chelsea players. Emma Hayes’ Blues were title winners again in 2022/23 – a campaign covered comprehensively by PA and our football reporters up and down the country.
Read the story on PA Explore: https://explore.pa.media/ready/story/ead90270-dca3-4816-9f74-60b42442e726
4. LIV golf merger
Golf was ripped apart in 2022 when the breakaway LIV tour pitted the game’s top players against each other. Legal threats overshadowed tournaments, while those who stayed on the DP and PGA Tours were often unable to hide their contempt for LIV and its riches. However, on a quiet Tuesday afternoon, when no one really expected it, all three Tours merged their commercial interests. Golf correspondent Phil Casey has been across the story from the start and will be with it as the year goes on towards the Ryder Cup.
Read the story on PA Explore: https://explore.pa.media/ready/story/8563799c-602d-4cb7-abe6-8ed8c494bfae
5. Ireland win Grand Slam
This year sees the latest edition of the Rugby World Cup and a Home Nation is the favourite for the tournament in France in the form of Ireland. Andy Farrell’s men have been the leading side in world rugby for the last couple of years and in beating France in Dublin on St Patrick’s weekend they secured the Six Nations Grand Slam – the perfect pre-World Cup preparation. Ed Elliot has travelled with the Irish for the last three campaigns and there’s a strong chance he could be reporting on them winning the biggest prize of all in Paris this autumn.
Read the story on PA Explore: https://explore.pa.media/ready/story/736e2710-73cd-4cd7-b2d8-3ac73838d773
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