Stars that shone brightest in 2023

Novak Djokovic

The Serbian tennis player continued to break records in a near-perfect season that saw him add three new titles to his record. Grand Slam. He already has 24 thanks to his triumphs at the Australian and United States Opens and at Roland Garros, extending his status as a number 1 in the world.

Jon Rahm

Spaniard Jon Rahm, 29 years old, managed to lift his first Augusta Mastersthe second major of his career and the tenth in Spanish golf, after a demonstration on the final day in which he defeated Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson and his first jacket green and becomes number one in the world.

Simone Biles

Simone Biles returned to competition in a big way. After missing two World Cups due to mental health issues that kept her away from the professional sportsresumed his successful career in Antwerp, where he managed to expand his collection World Cup medals to 11 p.m. thanks to team gold, another three individuals and silver.

Lionel Messi

For another year, the Argentine star was crowned with the Ballon d’Or, and there are now eight, after surpassing Frenchman Kylian Mbappé and the Norwegian Erling Haaland. At the age of 36, the Inter Miami footballer saw his contribution to Argentina’s victory at the World Cup in Qatar recognized. He was also named Time Magazine’s 2023 Athlete of the Year for his personal and collective successes.

Aitana Bonmati

Bonmatí, 25 years old, not only triumphed as an individual, but also won the ‘Golden Ball’, but he also did it with his two teams. She won the treble with Barcelona, ​​including the Champions League, and became world champion after the success of the Spanish team in Sydney, where she was the best player of the tournament.

Max Verstappen

The big idol sports of the The Netherlands At the age of 26, he celebrated his third consecutive Formula 1 World Championship title. He also did so by breaking numerous historical records, including the number of wins in a single season, bettering his own title and increasing it to 19 (in the 22 races played).

Victor Wembanyama

The French prodigy landed in the NBA with enormous expectations, perhaps only comparable to the landing of LeBron James twenty years ago. At 19 years old, ‘Wemby’ was the most coveted piece in the draft due to his exceptional physical circumstances, which combine the imposing height (2.24 meters) and the intimidation of a center with the skill and mobility of a point guard or a shooter. guard.

Mikaela Shiffrin

At the age of 27, the American skier expanded her legend by breaking the absolute historical record of victories in the Alpine Ski World Cup, set by another myth, the Swede Ingemark Stenmark. His 87th win, which broke the tie, came on March 11 at the Swedish station Are.

Kelkin Kiptum

At the age of 23, and during the third marathon of his career, Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum entered the golden book of world athletics on October 8 when he beat Eliud Kipchoge’s world record with a time of 2:00:35 in Chicago. considered the best marathoner in history, which he improved by 34 seconds.

Tigist Assefa

The Ethiopian athlete, at the age of 26 and in her third marathon, significantly reduced the previous marathon world record, set by Kenyan Brigid Kosgei in Chicago in 2:14:04, by more than two minutes.