Just about two years ago, I wrote about the state of British sport. I argued that despite what people were saying we were doing very well for a country of our size. Right now I feel vindicated.
This summer is still mid way through the sporting season, but if we look back at it and last year we see some great performances and results. Wiggins. Froome. Cavendish. Murray. Rose. Donald. Westwood. McIllroy. Clarke. Ryder Cup. Lions. Ashes. Button. Hamilton The Olympians and Paralympians. The list of winners goes on and on. Last year was a great year for British sport, and this year is carrying that on.
Let's start with the Tour de France, as this year's Tour finishes today it's a topical subject. Having gone 99 years without a British winner for the general classification, in fact no one even on the podium, we look to be set for a second winner in a row. Last year Wiggins blew everyone away on the time trials, while showing that he can climb as well, with the help of his lieutenant Froome. This year it's Froome showing what he can do, leaving his rivals on the climbs. And in case we forget in the excitement of the Maillot Jaune, Mark Cavendish has moved up to joint 3rd on the all time list of stage victories, the highest placed sprinter. And he'll be looking to make that his own on the Champs Elysees going for a sensational 5 victories in a row there.
Next let's have a look at tennis. Two years ago I was defending Murray as a world class player who had done exceptionally well, even if he hadn't won any majors. Well now times have changed. He's moved from 4th to 2nd in the world rankings. Has Olympic gold and two majors, beating Federer and Djokovic in finals. If you're going to break into the elite club of major winners, you have to beat some good players, and he has done more than that, beating some of the most successful players in history. Djokovic's unbeaten run is something I never thought I'd see, and Federer's record speaks for itself. The depth isn't there in the men's game to back him up, and in the women's Robson and Watson are coming through nicely, but not quite at the level they can be yet. Of course they are still young, and this is hugely promising. Robson especially looks like she could become a major feature on the LTA tour.
In golf we have a flood of success. In recent years Rose Clarke McIllroy and McDowell have all won majors. McIllroy Donald and Westwood have all held the top spot in the world rankings. Westwood is placed ominously two clear going into the final round of this year's open, hoping to break his duck after so many near misses. And then there's the Ryder cup, admittedly Europe not Britain, but winning of 5 of the last 6 is huge.
England have faltered in recent years in their bid to be the best cricket team in the world. Even saying that they are narrowly 3rd in both test and ODI rankings, 5th in T20 and are very well placed in the 2nd Ashes test having won the 1st. Australia aren't the force they once were, but the ashes is always special, and matters so much to both teams. Anderson is one of the premier pace bowlers in the world, Swann the equivalent for spin, and Cook and Trott some of the best, most consistent batsmen.
The recent Lions tour gave a lot of people renewed hope in the team. For something straight out of the amateur era, it is going to struggle to make the transition to professionalism where the relations and understanding of the players is so important. Having lost the previous three series they needed to show that they still should exist, with players able to cope after a long hard season. And I'm so glad to say that they did, winning the final test in some style, and George North getting one of the great Lions tries in the first test.
Then we come to the Olympics and Paralympics. 65 and 120 medals respectively, with 29 and 34 of them gold. 3rd in both medal tables, and in a combined one we would be sat in the same place. But it wasn't just the quantity of medals, it was the manner that they were won, and the way the whole country got excited. A lot of world class performances rewarded justly.
We're only a small nation. But we have some great sportsmen. We should be proud of what they have achieved and hope that they can carry it on for a long time to come.
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