The Year's Top Searches
Do you remember everything that happened in 2008? Find out this year's biggest news stories, blunders, gossip and so much more... click one of the links to the right to start reading.
Top Searches Sport 2008
Olympians
Sports stars
Teams
Online resources
Fashion
Talk shows
On a global basis, Rafael Nadal's overhauling of the world number one spot from perennial Roger Federer was a story that had everyone gripped. For a British audience, the biggest story of this year has surely got to be the rise to maturity of Andy Murray. His current masterful form justifies high hopes for a some major silverware next year.
Comply or Die raced into the history books at the Grand National, ably ridden by the 'flowing' Timmy Murphy. Flat racing was monopolised this year by an Irish two-man band - Aidan O'Brien and Jim Bolger. O'Brien completed a complete sweep of the Irish Classics and ended the season with 22 Group Ones in the bag. The unbeaten Zarkava's Arc win was a season highlight.
Disappointment for Nick Faldo's troops, comprehensively outplayed at Valhalla as the US took the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1999. On the ladies tour, the stupendous career of Annika Sorenstam finally drew to a close, after 15 years at the top of her game.
The 2008 World Cup was expected to be a shoo-in for an Aussie side featuring superstars like Billy Slater and Darren Lockyear, but an impressive team ethic and lack of errors meant that the Kiwis snatched the victory in a hard-fought final. Could this be a breath of fresh air for what many regard as a dwindling sport?
Rugby Union fans are getting back into Heineken Cup season again and enjoying an exciting Six Nations. The latter at the moment seems to be somewhat overshadowed by discussion over the All Blacks' pre-match war dance, the Haka. Calls for rival English morris dancing have so far been ignored by Martin Johnson.
This year saw the continued rise of Twenty20 in challenge to the more established Test matches and one-dayers. With the financial lure of the Indian Premier League dangling beneath the noses of British players, we can expect to see the short form of the game proliferating over the next few years.
After the disappointments of 2006 and 2007, racing bike legend Valentino Rossi hit the top again, taking the Moto GP crown for the sixth time with a record-breaking points total.
A stellar year of British success - fourth in the medals table, with some superb individual efforts from the likes of Chris Hoy and Rebecca Adlington thrilling the nation. On the track, Usain Bolt stunned everyone with his seemingly super-human speed in the 100m and 200m, whilst in the water Michael Phelps won an unprecendented eight golds. A triumph.
Rocked by scandal after scandal and constant infighting amongst the teams in recent years, Formula 1's star seemed to be dimming, at least in the minds of the UK public. Then, of course, along came Lewis Hamilton, now F1's youngest ever champion, and even your granny was keeping a tab on the latest driver standings.
2008 saw all the home teams ousted from the main European international competition, and we prepared for a tedious summer. What a shock then, to discover the joys of Euro 2008 - scintillating talent, nail-bitingly tense matches, jovial crowds and a deserved Spanish victory.