After enduring the painful spectacle of Andy Murray losing in the final of yet another Grand Slam last month, I began to think that the 2012 phase of British sporting prowess was on the decline. The days of spending hours in front of the television watching sports from athletics and swimming to table tennis and handball are long gone, as it the constant talk of sport throughout the nation. The inspiration we gained from the summer is petering out as the gym begins to empty out and the sports facilities free up. The reality of it is: that we appear to have fallen into a post-games slump.
The Olympics brought us together as a country, where Brits whose trainers lay covered in dust suddenly became remarkably fanatic about sport; it transformed us into winners and united us as a country. Not only did long jumpers and boxers (whose name’s we had never previously heard of) win the gold, but it inspired sporting success on a much bigger level. Bradley Wiggins became a national hero, Rory Mcllroy shocked everyone when he won the PGA championship against all odds and at long last Murray won a Grand Slam. Britain continued to surprise the world as we just kept on winning and it felt as if our athletic triumphs would last forever.
However, as 2013 rolled around the corner it rendered the Olympics and the sporting excitement within the country a mere memory. With the heroes of 2012 either out of sight, or on our screens in reality TV shows, we have been left only with coverage of drug cheats, allegations of match fixing and a resignation to second place in too many high profile sports. Without sounding overly pessimistic, British sport seems to have been a bit of a disappointment.
But don’t cancel your eurosport subscription right away. HCX is here to provide you with a list of sporting events that are sure to grip the nation and hopefully see us emulate the success of 2012.
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The World Track Cycling Championships: 20-24 March
Later this month we will see the world’s best cyclists hitting the track in Belarus for the World Track Championships. Britain’s will be out to impress after their hugely successful Olympics with the likes of gold medallists Jason Kenny and Laura Trott involved. This event is sure to bring back the glory of last summer especially as our British cycling team will take some beating.
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The Masters: 11-14 April
Once again we will see Augusta play host to this historic tournament which will have golf fans excited for months as it is the first major tournament of the year. With players such as Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Rory McIlroy taking to the green, it is an event that always appeals globally. Our British golfers will be out in force and any one of them could clinch the crown.
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Champions League Finals: 23 & 25 April
With Arsenal being the only team from the British Premier League left in the tournament, we can only hope that they have what it takes to make it to the final of the Champions League. Either way the Final of such a highly anticipated event is one to put in your sporting diaries, with a World Class display of football a forgone conclusion and the question on everyone lips: ‘Can anyone challenge Barcelona?’
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Wimbledon: 24 June-7 July
I know Wimbledon is a little way off, but who can help getting excited about our favourite regular British sporting event? The best part is that we don’t even need to pray for sun with the Centre Court roof battling the elements. All the usual suspects will be arriving at the All England Club with Andy Murray the last player to triumph on the courts in the Olympics, and he will be looking to take the title off Roger Federer. However there is also much to look forward to from the women, for the first time in many years we have two ladies in the top 50 who will both be looking to prove a point on home turf.
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Athletics World Championships: 10-18 August
If you are missing the action of the Olympics, hang on to the thought that August will see the return of all of our favourite track and field athletes in the World Championships in Moscow. Jess Ennis, Usain Bolt and Mo Farrah will all be back dominating our screens. Ennis will be hoping to take back the World Title she lost in 2011 and Greg Rutherford to prove his Long Jumping Gold was not a mere fluke. The event is sure to get rid of those post-Olympic blues.
Photo Credits:
mirror.co.uk, guardian.co.uk, telegraph.co.uk, espn.go.com, uefa.com