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Australian Sporting Highlights in 2022

The sports world is slowly coming back to 'normal' after a couple of coronavirus impacted years. Major events in 2022 were the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing, the FIFA World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, and an Ashes series for both men and women.

Carlton v Dockers, Optus Stadium, Western Australia

Two big international sporting events took place in New South Wales, the 2022 UCI Road Cycling World Championships in Wollongong and the FIBA Basketball Women's World Cup at Sydney Olympic Park.

The year did not start well for Australian sport. The Australian Open was all about Novak Djokovic who was detained at the border, his visa canceled and he was subsequently deported. If only he had got himself fully vaccinated, as all other tennis players were happy to do.

It was not all bad news for tennis in Australia. Ash Barty became the first local player to claim the Australian Open women's singles championship in 44 years, since Chris O'Neil in 1978. The Australian fans were in for a treat, with crowd favoutites the Special K's, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios, won the men's doubles tennis title in an all-Australian final against Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell at the 2022 Australian Open. They became the first all-Australian pair to win the title since Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in 1997,

At the top of her game, and just when she has the highest adoration from the Australian public, Ash Barty retired from tennis. Australian are now waiting to see where else she takes her sporting talent.

At the Winter Olympics, it was Australia’s best ever showing at the  2022 Beijing Games, the team coming home with a gold medal, two silvers and one bronze. A gold medal for Jakara Anthony in moguls, plus Australia's first medal in sliding sports was won by Jaclyn Narracott, winning silver in the women's skeleton event. Australia finished 18th on the medal tally.

At the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham ...

A major highlight of the year was Australia qualifying for their 5th FIFA World Cup in a row. Australia were drawn in Group D, against France, Tunisia and Denmark. It was Australia's best result at the World Cup, making the round of 16 with two wins in the group stage.

The Sydney Kings defeated the JackJumpers in game three of the NBL grand final series, denying Tasmania a title in their maiden season.

Who won the A-League?

Serena Williams failed at beating Margaret Courts grand-slam winning record. It was an Australian that beat her on her last attempt at the US open.

Cyclist Jai Hindley won the Giro d'Italia, becoming Australia's second ever Grand Tour champion (joining Cadel Evans who won the Tour de France in 2011). In the Tour de France, Michael Matthews has won stage 14.

Ange Postecoglou silenced doubters with superb debut season in Europe, claiming Scottish Premiership with Celtic. He also became the first Aussie coach to lead a team to the UEFA Champions League

Lance Franklin kicking 1000 goals .

At the world swimming championships in Budapest, Australia finished with six gold, nine silver and two bronze. They finished third in the medal table behind Italy and the USA, who were in a league of their own, collecting 17 gold among a record-breaking 45 medals in total.

Sam Kerr had a stellar year, cementing her place as one of the world's greatest footballers. She won lots of accolades and awards.

Lauren Jackson made a comeback aged 41 to help the Opals to a World Cup bronze.

Cameron Smith golf going well in the British Open. The championship was won by Cameron Smith with a score of 268, 20 under par, one stroke ahead of Cameron Young. He also did well in the Masters, finished in a tie for third

Eleanor Patterson has claimed the gold medal in the women's high jump at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The second Australian woman over 2m. Eleanor Patterson has claimed the gold medal in the women's high jump at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The 26-year-old becomes just the tenth Australian to achieve an athletics world title, joining the likes of Cathy Freeman, Dani Samuels and Sally Pearson. Patterson soared 2.02metres to win on count-back. The 26-year-old becomes just the tenth Australian to achieve an athletics world title, joining the likes of Cathy Freeman, Dani Samuels and Sally Pearson.

The women’s Rugby Sevens team won the World Cup – to go along with their Commonwealth Games gold and World Series title.

Jess Fox was crowned women’s K1 World Cup champion for the fourth time and the

Australian table tennis team won all 28 gold medals at the Oceania Championships.

Australia at Wimbledon. Unseeded Nick Kyrgios was defeated in the Wimbledon final by Novak ??. He became the first Australian man to reach a major final since Lleyton Hewitt at the 2005 Australian Open, and the first to reach the Wimbledon final since Mark Philippoussis in 2003.

Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell won the Wimbledon men's doubles final over defending champions Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic. They are the first Australians to win the event since Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge won the last of their six Wimbledon crowns 22 years ago. Ebden also made the final of the mixed doubles with Samantha Stosu.

Steph Gilmore went on an astonishing run in California to win her eighth (eighth!!) world title.

Australia’s Neil Robertson made a rare 147 maximum break at the world snooker championships held at the crucible, but still crashed to a 13-12 defeat against Jack Lisowski on Tuesday (AEST). Robertson recorded only the 12th 147 in the history of the tournament 

John Coates's tenure as president of the Australian Olympic Committee comes to an end.

Australia men beat England 4-0 in the Ashes series held in Australia. The women played a one off Ashes test and other games.

Australian women won the ODI world cup, beating England in a very high scoring match.

Australian woman golf player won the US Open.

The 2022 Don Award, which recognises the sporting achievement of the year which has inspired the people of Australia, was awarded to Ash Barty, for a second time, becoming just the third athlete to claim the gong more than once.

Notable deaths in Australian sport for 2022:

• Lots of cricket deaths: Rod Marsh Died, Shane Warne the next day. Shane Warne is famous for his mastery of leg spin and widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all-time. Dean Jones, Andrew "Roy" Symonds.
• Golfer Jack Newton died.
• Four-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Harry White dies age 78.
• Olympic bronze medalist John Landy, who was a governor of Victoria and the second person to break the four-minute mile, has died.
• One of the Collingwood's greatest players, Billy Picken, died aged 66.
• Rugby league legend Johnny Raper died in February at the age of 82. He played 39 Tests for Australia between 1959 and 1968, captaining Australia to victory in that year's World Cup.

Below is a timeline of some significant results for Australians in the world of sport for the year 2022.

If you have a correction or know of events that should be included here, please let me know.

Related Pages

• 2022 World Sports Highlights of the Year
• Australia at the 2022 Beijing Olympics
• Australia at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
• Australian Sport Timeline
• Timeline (all years) in the world of sport
• 2022 Calendar of Major Sporting Events

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