Paul Radley looks at 10 memorable moments from the world of sport in 2015.
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Sepp Blatter resigns
... Or, at least, prepared to “lay down my mandate” as Fifa president, as he phrased it in June. After years of mounting evidence of corruption within football’s governing body, the dam finally burst for their leader — three days after winning the vote to carry on for a fifth term.
The second Serena Slam
Serena Williams staved off competition from a horse, among others, to be named Sports Illustrated’s sportsperson of the year. When she won Wimbledon, it was her 21st grand slam title and completed a “Serena Slam” — winning all four majors in a row — for the second time in her career.
Japan stun the world
Rugby’s World Cup in England was the best attended and most profitable of all the oval-ball game’s showpiece competitions to date. The TV audience in East Asia also boomed once Japan had a claimed a win for the ages with an extraordinary final-play try against South Africa.
Fury shakes up heavyweight boxing
The Klitschko brothers have ruled the heavyweight division with ruthless efficiency for the past decade. Then a wild-card fighter from Irish Traveller stock arrived and, singing as he went, won a points decision over Wladimir to open the door to an exciting new future.
Barcelona Europe kings
It took Barcelona until 1992 to correct one of the anomalies of European football by winning its top prize for the first time. They have been making up for lost time lately. The 3-1 win over Juventus in May made it four titles in nine seasons.
Spieth the young master
Wins at The Masters and the US Open. The FedEx Cup. Set a record for the most money accrued in a season. Jordan Spieth might as well retire now. Oh, he is still only 22. Still a little while to go then.
Money tops Pac-Man
The preview hype far exceeded the quality of the ensuing show, as The Fight of the Century went the way of so many Floyd Mayweather Jr bouts before it. The American won via an unanimous points decision to extend his record to 48-0. Manny Pacquiao cited injury.
Russian doping exposed
Vladimir Putin suggested claims that 99 per cent of Russian athletes were involved in doping were “groundless” but the country’s athletics federation were provisionally banned. It remains to be seen whether Russians will be at the start line when the Rio Olympics commences in 2016.
USA bank on Lloyd
Four goals in the opening 16 minutes meant there was only going to be one winner of the Women’s World Cup final. Carli Lloyd scored a hat-trick in that time to set the United States on their way to their third world title with a 5-2 win against the holders, Japan.
Elliott downs Proteas
Australia won cricket’s World Cup in a one-sided final, but the match of the tournament was the semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa. A pulsating Eden Park was sent into delirium when Grant Elliott, who was born and raised in South Africa, hit the penultimate ball for six.
