2022's top forces sporting achievements

In 2022, forces sport was finally able to put aside the logistical problems of Covid-19 as military sports and athletes were able to get back into proper competition again.  

That allowed a number of teams and competitors to reach new heights in the year, including international title winners and a Commonwealth Games dream that came true.

Let's look back on some of the headline-makers for 2022.

Commonwealth Games

A home tournament provided an opportunity for RAF guide Luke Pollard and Dave Ellis to put last year's Tokyo Paralympics disappointment behind them in the para triathlon event.

There were no broken bike chains in sight as a masterful performance from the pair secured a gold medal.

It wasn't the only medal for a forces athlete in Birmingham as veteran Micky Yule made his third successive tournament count.

He finished fourth in 2014 and 2018 but in this year's para-powerlifting competition, he won a bronze medal and retired from Commonwealth competition with his dream complete.

Rugby World Cups

The military stand-out star at a Rugby World Cup this year has to be England Wheelchair Rugby League's James Simpson.

The Army veteran can now call himself a World Champion after the team's tremendous performance in a home tournament.

They beat France by four points in the final in Manchester.

Army star Staff Sergeant Carrie Roberts lined up for England in the women's tournament as they reached the semi-finals while Gunner Mitieli Vulikijapani received a late call-up for Fiji in the men's competition.

They reached the quarter-finals but were beaten by New Zealand.

In the women's rugby union World Cup, it was late heartbreak against the Kiwis that denied the RAF's Amy Cokayne a winning medal in the final.

The dramatic final few minutes was an all-time high for women's rugby but saw New Zealand win.

The RAF also had representation at the tournament with Scotland's Sarah Bonar and Wales' Carys Williams-Morris.

Kat Matthews

A sporting star from the Army that has taken 2022 by storm and earned a category of her own.

Captain Kat Matthews may well have been spending her New Year as the world champion in triathlon if it weren't for a serious accident in September.

The fractured skull ruled her out of the 2022 World Championships where she was aiming for better than last year's second-place finish.

She was in form too. In June, she became the first female in the world to finish an Ironman distance event in under eight hours and, last month, she was crowned Army Sportswoman of the Year.

Boxing

While she may not be officially serving in the British Army anymore, lots of military personnel have been supporting Karriss Artingstall as she began her professional boxing career.

The Olympic bronze medallist has fought twice since turning pro – winning both in front of passionate UK crowds.

Another Army boxer who could follow Artingstall's lead is the 2022 Army Sportsman of the Year, Carnell Brown.

He won a national title in a 2022 where he proved he's one of military boxing's very best.

Bobsleigh

As usual, a number of Forces stars have impressed on the ice with Royal Marine Taylor Lawrence currently winning medals for Great Britain during their 2022/23 season.

He will be aiming for overall World Cup success, but last season's effort saw him finish in sixth in the World Championships as part of GB's four-man bobsleigh team.

The same team also went to the Winter Olympics and finished in fourth place.

The Army's Lamin Deen was also part of that GB team at the Winter Olympics and it was a fitting event for one of the military's bobsleigh stars to end their elite sporting career – as confirmed by Deen.

RAF Sportsman of the Year Shanwayne Stephens was also at the tournament as he led Jamaica to a historic first Olympics appearance in 34 years.