THE greatest sporting moment of all time is England’s Lionesses winning the 2022 Euros, according to research.
A poll of 2,000 sports fans found Liverpool beating AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League Final and Usain Bolt winning gold in the 100 metre race at the 2012 Olympics also made the list.
Leicester City’s Premier League title win in 2016 and the England cricket team beating New Zealand to win their first World Cup in 2019 rounded out the top five greatest moments.
While the top 30 list also included Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile barrier in 1954, Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal and “Goal of the Century” in the 1986 World Cup Final and Muhammed Ali’s ‘rumble in the jungle’ win over George Foreman in 1974.
It also emerged 72 per cent of those polled would have liked to witness some of these great moments in person.
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.
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Spokesperson 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 of more great sporting moments to come in the future.”
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Dennis Taylor defeating Steve Davis for the World Snooker Championship in 1985 and Mbappe's comeback hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final also featured in the list of sporting moments.
But while they can’t guarantee a moment as exciting as those featured on the list, 22 per cent of respondents have a trip planned in 2023 to see a specific sporting event.
Football was most popular sport to watch (81 per cent), followed by tennis (33 per cent) and cricket (19 per cent).
And 66 per cent have seen their favourite team play in person.
A third have gone abroad for a sports game and are 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 per cent of those taking a spontaneous trip to see them play.
And 93 per cent will continue to support their favourite team, regardless of whether they win or lose.
Of those polled, via OnePoll, 23 per cent have gone as far as planning a holiday around when and where their favourite team is playing.
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.
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“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 Sporting Moments of All Time
The top 30 sporting moments are…
1. England Lionesses Euros win (2022)
2. Liverpool beat AC Milan in the Champions League Final from 3-0 down (2005)
3. Usain Bolt winning gold in the 100m at the London Olympics (2012)
4. Leicester City Premier League title win (2016)
5. England cricket team beating New Zealand to win their first ever World Cup (2019)
6. Roger Bannister breaking the 4-minute mile barrier 1954)
7. Diego Maradona’s 'Hand of God' and 'Goal of the Century' goal in the World Cup Final (1986)
8. Muhammed Ali’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ win over George Foreman (1974)
9. Dennis Taylor defeating Steve Davis for the World Snooker Championship (1985)
10. Mbappe's comeback hat-trick in the World Cup final (2022)
11. David Beckham's star-making goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon (1996)
12. Unseeded Boris Becker’s Wimbledon win aged just 17 (1985)
13. Cristiano Ronaldo’s bicycle kick in the Champions League quarterfinals (2018)
14. Roger Federer winning his 20th Grand Slam title (2018)
15. Serena Williams winning her first Wimbledon title (2002)
16. Michael Schumacher’s seven World Championship wins in Formula One Racing (2004)
17. Pele scoring the 1,000th goal in his career (1969)
18. Jenson Button and Brawn GP winning the Formula One world championship (2009)
19. The football World Cup taking place in Qatar (2022)
20. Goran Ivanišević winning Wimbledon as a wildcard entrant (2001)
21. Michael Phelps becoming the most decorated Olympian with 22 medals (2008)
22. The first Olympic Games in ancient Greece (776 BC)
23. Greece winning Euro 2004 (2004)
24. Tiger Woods winning the Masters, his first major victory in over a decade (2019)
25. Denmark win the European football champions (1992)
26. Japan beat South Africa in the Rugby World Cup (2015)
27. Wigan Athletic FA Cup win (2013)
28. Wimbledon's FA cup winning side (1988)
29. The “Miracle on Ice” in the 1980 Winter Olympics
30. Andy Ruiz Jnr knocking out Anthony Joshua (2019)
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