Sports fans have voted for the greatest sporting moments of all time – with the England Lionesses' victory in the 2022 Euros tournament topping the list.
The top 30 moments date all the way back to the first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, in 776BC, and range right up to date, with the 2022 football World Cup taking place in Qatar also featuring on the list.
More than a third of the greatest moments have taken place in the last decade – with Leicester City's 2016 Premier League title win, Usain Bolt's 100m gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics, and England beating New Zealand to win their first ever cricket World Cup in 2019, all appearing in the top five.
Delving further back into the archives, Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile barrier in 1954, and Muhammed Ali's “rumble in the jungle” win over George Foreman in 1974, both made the top 10 sporting history moments.
And so did Diego Maradona's “Hand of God” goal, and “Goal of the Century”, in the 1986 World Cup final, along with Dennis Taylor defeating Steve Davis in the 1985 World Snooker Championship.
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The poll of 2,000 sports fans also revealed that 72% would have liked to have witnessed some of these great moments in person.
Seven in ten sports fans wish they could have seen some of these moments live and in person (SWNS)The research was commissioned by Visit Anaheim – which works to promote tourism to Anaheim, California – as it sponsors both the Los Angeles Angels’ Spring Training, and their minor league baseball team, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Spokesman Jay Burress said: “Most sports fans know the highs and the lows that come from supporting a team or an athlete.
“We wanted to see which moments were the most memorable, but also to see the lengths that fans are willing to go to, in order to see their favourite competition, live and in person.
“There are so many great sporting moments to choose from, but clearly these have stuck with people and had an impact.
“It’s amazing how sport as a whole can really bring people together, and I’m sure there are plenty more great sporting moments to come in the future.”
And while they can’t guarantee a moment as exciting as those featured on the list, 22% of respondents have a trip planned in 2023 to see a specific sporting event.
Football was most popular sport to watch (81%), followed by tennis (33%) and cricket (19%).
And 66% have seen their favourite team play in person, with a third having gone abroad for a sports game – willing to travel an average of five hours and 36 minutes, spending £420.60.
It also found two-thirds have a favourite team, with 23% of those taking a spontaneous trip to see them play.
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Sports fans are willing to travel up to five and a half hours and spend £420 to see their team play (SWNS)And 93% will continue to support their favourite team, regardless of whether they win or lose.
Of those polled, via OnePoll, 23% have gone as far as planning a holiday around when and where their favourite team is playing.
Jay Burress added: “There’s nothing quite like seeing your favourite team play in person, and sports are a great thing to plan a holiday around.
“Still, it’s good to head to a destination where there’s something for the whole family to enjoy, and where there are a variety of activities nearby, so you have options once you’ve finished cheering your team on at the stadium.
“Sports are a big part of people’s lives, and holidays are too – which is why combining the two could make a great trip.
“Who knows – the next time you see your favourite team, it could end up being another one of the greatest sporting moments of all time.”
TOP 30 GREATEST MOMENTS IN SPORTING HISTORY:
- England Lionesses Euros win (2022)
- Liverpool beating AC Milan in the Champions League Final from 3-0 down (2005)
- Usain Bolt winning gold in the 100m at the London Olympics (2012)
- Leicester City's Premier League title win (2016)
- England cricket team beating New Zealand to win their first ever World Cup (2019)
- Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile barrier (1954)
- Diego Maradona's “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” goal in the World Cup Final (1986)
- Muhammed Ali's “rumble in the jungle” win over George Foreman (1974)
- Dennis Taylor defeating Steve Davis for the Snooker World Championship (1985)
- Mbappe's comeback hat-trick in the World Cup final (2022)
- David Beckham's star-making goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon (1996)
- Unseeded Boris Becker's Wimbledon win aged just 17 (1985)
- Cristiano Ronaldo's bicycle kick in the Champions League quarter-finals (2018)
- Roger Federer winning his 20th Grand Slam title (2018)
- Serena Williams winning her first Wimbledon title (2002)
- Michael Schumacher's seven World Championship wins in Formula One Racing (2004)
- Pelé scoring his 1,000th career goal (1969)
- Jenson Button and Brawn GP winning the Formula One World Championship (2009)
- The football World Cup taking place in Qatar (2022)
- Goran Ivanišević winning Wimbledon as a wildcard entrant (2001)
- Michael Phelps becoming the most decorated Olympian, with 22 medals (2008)
- The first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece (776BC)
- Greece winning Euro 2004 (2004)
- Tiger Woods winning the Masters, his first major victory in over a decade (2019)
- Denmark winning the European football champions (1992)
- Japan beating South Africa in the Rugby World Cup (2015)
- Wigan Athletic's FA Cup win (2013)
- Wimbledon's FA Cup winning side (1988)
- The “Miracle on Ice” in the 1980 Winter Olympics
- Andy Ruiz Jnr. knocking out Anthony Joshua (2019)
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