2013's biggest moments in sports

Published December 31, 2013
Cristiano Ronaldo gave a performance worth remembering when he recorded a hat trick in Portugal’s 3-2 World Cup qualifying game win over Sweden in Stockholm. The victory pushed Portugal through to Brazil and is set for an opening round match against the United States. For 90 minutes, Ronaldo showed exactly why he was the world’s best player in 2013. –  Photo by AP
Cristiano Ronaldo gave a performance worth remembering when he recorded a hat trick in Portugal’s 3-2 World Cup qualifying game win over Sweden in Stockholm. The victory pushed Portugal through to Brazil and is set for an opening round match against the United States. For 90 minutes, Ronaldo showed exactly why he was the world’s best player in 2013. – Photo by AP
Seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher was hospitalized after a skiing accident on December 29. Schumacher suffered a head injury in a fall while skiing off-piste in the French Alps resort of Meribel on Sunday. The 44-year-old German was wearing a helmet and was conscious while being transported to a local hospital before later being transferred to a better-equipped medical unit in Grenoble for further examinations. – Photo by AFP
Seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher was hospitalized after a skiing accident on December 29. Schumacher suffered a head injury in a fall while skiing off-piste in the French Alps resort of Meribel on Sunday. The 44-year-old German was wearing a helmet and was conscious while being transported to a local hospital before later being transferred to a better-equipped medical unit in Grenoble for further examinations. – Photo by AFP
Victoria Azarenka managed to win the second Grand Slam title of her young career during the Australian Open, despite being persistently skewered by the media in the two days leading up to the final, due to her controversial call for a medical time out in a previous match. –  Photo by Reuters
Victoria Azarenka managed to win the second Grand Slam title of her young career during the Australian Open, despite being persistently skewered by the media in the two days leading up to the final, due to her controversial call for a medical time out in a previous match. – Photo by Reuters
Oracle Team USA skippered by James Spithill won an amazing victory in September after coming from 8-1 down to defeat Emirates Team New Zealand. – Photo Reuters
Oracle Team USA skippered by James Spithill won an amazing victory in September after coming from 8-1 down to defeat Emirates Team New Zealand. – Photo Reuters
Alex Ferguson stepped down as manager of Manchester United after being in charge for 27 years. Ferguson signed off by winning the Premier League title, one of 38 trophies he won during his time at Old Trafford. – Photo by AP
Alex Ferguson stepped down as manager of Manchester United after being in charge for 27 years. Ferguson signed off by winning the Premier League title, one of 38 trophies he won during his time at Old Trafford. – Photo by AP
The European women’s team won on U.S. soil for the very first time to claim victory in the Solheim Cup. The visiting team won 18-10 due to the efforts of Swedish competitors Caroline Hedwall, Annika Sorenstam, Liselotte Neumann, Carin Koch and Anna Nordqvist. –  Photo by Reuters
The European women’s team won on U.S. soil for the very first time to claim victory in the Solheim Cup. The visiting team won 18-10 due to the efforts of Swedish competitors Caroline Hedwall, Annika Sorenstam, Liselotte Neumann, Carin Koch and Anna Nordqvist. – Photo by Reuters
Seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong revealed he had used an array of performance enhancing drugs to win the event. Armstrong admitted to using testosterone, human growth hormone and EPO, a hormone naturally produced by human kidneys to stimulate red blood cell production. – Photo by Reuters
Seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong revealed he had used an array of performance enhancing drugs to win the event. Armstrong admitted to using testosterone, human growth hormone and EPO, a hormone naturally produced by human kidneys to stimulate red blood cell production. – Photo by Reuters
Football player Zahir Belounis returned home from Qatar on November 28, 2013. The French-Algerian footballer, 33, had been unable to leave Qatar since June 2012, after he filed a complaint against his club Al-Jaish over a payment dispute. – Photo by AP
Football player Zahir Belounis returned home from Qatar on November 28, 2013. The French-Algerian footballer, 33, had been unable to leave Qatar since June 2012, after he filed a complaint against his club Al-Jaish over a payment dispute. – Photo by AP
Chris Weidman defended his UFC middleweight title against Anderson Silva, after Silva broke his left leg when connecting with a kick during the second round, ending UFC 168 with a gruesome injury on Saturday night. –  Photo by AP
Chris Weidman defended his UFC middleweight title against Anderson Silva, after Silva broke his left leg when connecting with a kick during the second round, ending UFC 168 with a gruesome injury on Saturday night. – Photo by AP
Sebastian Vettel claimed a fourth successive Formula One drivers' title following yet another spectacular season.   – Photo By AP
Sebastian Vettel claimed a fourth successive Formula One drivers' title following yet another spectacular season. – Photo By AP
Andy Murray's victory at Wimbledon ended a 77-year wait for a new British male champion. Scotsman Murray, who had lost in the final 12 months earlier, defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets ending an exhilarating match. – Photo by Reuters
Andy Murray's victory at Wimbledon ended a 77-year wait for a new British male champion. Scotsman Murray, who had lost in the final 12 months earlier, defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets ending an exhilarating match. – Photo by Reuters
Overcoming the loss of their senior stars, reigning 50-over world champions India flexed their limited overs muscles  to win the final edition of the Champions Trophy beating hosts England in the final.–  Photo by Reuters
Overcoming the loss of their senior stars, reigning 50-over world champions India flexed their limited overs muscles to win the final edition of the Champions Trophy beating hosts England in the final.– Photo by Reuters
In August 2013, the world was left speechless as news broke that Oscar Pistorius had been charged with premeditated murder in the death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The ''Blade Runner" is set to go on trial in March 2014 in his home country South Africa.  –  Photo by Reuters
In August 2013, the world was left speechless as news broke that Oscar Pistorius had been charged with premeditated murder in the death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The ''Blade Runner" is set to go on trial in March 2014 in his home country South Africa. – Photo by Reuters
After losing out in its home stadium to Chelsea in the 2012 final, Bayern finally claimed the European Champions League trophy. The German side won the domestic double as well in a season which climaxed with a victory over German rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. – Photo by AFP
After losing out in its home stadium to Chelsea in the 2012 final, Bayern finally claimed the European Champions League trophy. The German side won the domestic double as well in a season which climaxed with a victory over German rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. – Photo by AFP
Rafael Nadal defied the career obituary writers with his stunning renaissance in 2013 as he and fellow major winners Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray cut struggling Roger Federer adrift.

Nadal was sport's comeback man of the year, collecting 10 titles from 14 finals, including a landmark eighth French Open, a second US Open which took his career majors tally to 13, and a record 26th Masters. -Photo by AFP
Rafael Nadal defied the career obituary writers with his stunning renaissance in 2013 as he and fellow major winners Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray cut struggling Roger Federer adrift. Nadal was sport's comeback man of the year, collecting 10 titles from 14 finals, including a landmark eighth French Open, a second US Open which took his career majors tally to 13, and a record 26th Masters. -Photo by AFP
Angered by a line call during his match against Ernests Gulbis at the Rome Masters in May, Serbian Viktor Troicki went on an impressive five-minute rant against umpire Cedric Mourier. Troicki claimed that one could see "from the space" that there was "no space" between his ball and the line. He then proceeded to drag the cameraman out to the court to film the ball mark on the clay.  – Photo by AP
Angered by a line call during his match against Ernests Gulbis at the Rome Masters in May, Serbian Viktor Troicki went on an impressive five-minute rant against umpire Cedric Mourier. Troicki claimed that one could see "from the space" that there was "no space" between his ball and the line. He then proceeded to drag the cameraman out to the court to film the ball mark on the clay. – Photo by AP
Sloane Stephens stumbled into the eye of a media storm when she upset Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open at the beginning of the year. –  Photo by Reuters
Sloane Stephens stumbled into the eye of a media storm when she upset Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open at the beginning of the year. – Photo by Reuters
Sachin Tendulkar waved goodbye to his adoring fans ending a phenomenal international career which lasted 24 years and one day, while leaving behind an incredible legacy. –  Photo Reuters
Sachin Tendulkar waved goodbye to his adoring fans ending a phenomenal international career which lasted 24 years and one day, while leaving behind an incredible legacy. – Photo Reuters

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