5 of the best and worst sporting moments of 2023

Michael Smith, Kevin Sinfield and Katarina Johnson-Thompson hit the highs, unlike England’s cricketers at the World Cup.

It has been another astonishing year of sporting drama, featuring triumphs for Europe’s Ryder Cup team, a near-miss for England’s women footballers and a nightmare title defence for the men’s cricketers.

Here, the PA news agency looks back on five of the best and worst sporting moments of 2023.

Best moments

Darting perfection in World Championship final

Michael Smith fired a stunning nine-dart finish in one of the greatest legs in the history of the World Championship during the early stages of the final with Michael Van Gerwen. In the third leg of the second set it was Van Gerwen who had the first chance at perfection, only to miss double 12. Smith, throwing second, was right behind him though, and made no mistake, following seven-successive treble 20s with a treble 19 and the prized double 12 to send the Alexandra Palace crowd wild. Smith’s perfect leg was the just the second in a World Championship final and he went on to complete a 7-4 victory.

Unseeded Vondrousova wins Wimbledon

Marketa Vondrousova celebrated with the Venus Rosewater Dish following victory over Ons Jabeur in the Wimbledon ladies’ singles final (John Walton/PA)

Europe retain Solheim Cup after thrilling tie in Spain

Double gold for Britain in World Athletics Championship

Great Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson won gold in the heptathlon on day two of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest (Martin Rickett/PA)

Europe regain Ryder Cup in Rome

Worst moments

Adam Johnson dies after accident in ice hockey game

Adam Johnson death — Flowers and messages were left in tribute to Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson outside the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham (Jacob King/PA)

WTA Finals leaves top players feeling ‘disrespected’

For the third year in succession a late decision was made about the venue for the season-ending showpiece, with Cancun in hurricane season unsurprisingly proving a poor choice. World number two Aryna Sabalenka easily won her opening match but then took to social media to criticise the arrangements for players, who were only able to practise in the temporary arena for the first time the day before matches got under way. “I am very disappointed with the WTA and the experience so far at the WTA Finals,” Sabalenka wrote. “As a player, I feel really disrespected by the WTA. I think most of us do. To be honest, I don’t feel safe moving on this court a lot of the time.”

Sir Bobby Charlton dies

Luis Rubiales overshadows Spain’s World Cup triumph

England’s Cricket World Cup defence

Jos Buttler’s England finished in a lowly seventh place at the World Cup (Altaf Qadri/AP)