Lionesses' Euros win tops poll as greatest live sporting moment of last 20 years

England Lionesses claiming the Euros title in 2022 has been crowned as the top live TV sporting moment of the past two decades, according to a recent poll.

The survey, which involved 2,000 sports enthusiasts, also highlighted Luke Littler's remarkable performance at the 2023 Darts World Championship at just 16 years old, and Leicester City's unexpected Premier League triumph in 2016, as other standout moments.

Other memorable events included Andy Murray's Wimbledon victories in 2013 and 2016, and the England cricket team's historic win against New Zealand to secure their first World Cup in 2019.

The study was conducted by Freely, a free streaming service that offers live and on-demand TV and films from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. It showed that on average, sports fans spend an astonishing 172 hours per year watching live sports on TV - the equivalent to over a week of continuous viewing.

Football was the most popular sport to watch from home, with 62% of respondents choosing it. This was followed by tennis (33%), athletics (26%) and Formula 1 (25%). Cricket (23%), rugby (22%) and boxing (17%) were also among the favourite sports to watch.

In the past five years, nearly half (48%) of the respondents reported watching more women's sports, with men slightly more likely to say this (51% compared to 46% of women).

Amy Rowcliffe, director at Freely, commented: "The Lionesses' Euros win was truly iconic and memorable - it fully deserves to top this list. And watching sporting events live makes all the difference - even if your team didn't win you feel part of something important."

"Seeing so many people watching more female sport is incredible and with the Lionesses taking top spot, it just shows how influential it has become."

The research also showed that nearly four in ten (36%) are keen to increase the amount of live sports they watch on TV. Moreover, eight in ten believe it's crucial for major sporting events to remain free-to-air and accessible for all Brits, including The Olympics, UEFA European Football Championships, and The Wimbledon Tennis Championships.

Respondents identified iconic sporting moments as those where an underdog triumphs (31%), a record is shattered (29%), or the event holds historical significance (28%) - a significant 72% also agreed that sports commentary plays a vital role in emphasising the unforgettable moments.

Regarding the diversity of sports consumption, the average person watches two different sports per week, but those aged 25 to 34 lead the pack, with 18% tuning into four varied sports weekly.

Over half (54%) are open to watching new sports on TV, and almost a third (30%) have felt inspired to participate in a sport after witnessing historic sporting moments on screen.

There are many reasons why Brits opt to stay at home and enjoy live sport, including no travelling, a fully stocked fridge and the company of friends and family. Close to seven in ten (69%) feel it's important to watch the moments as they happen - and 59% said this was for the added excitement of not knowing the result.

Amy Rowcliffe, of Freely, added: "People love watching live sporting events on TV and agree they should stay free for everyone and we have been spoilt this Summer with some incredible live sport."

"As many of us watched the Euros a few weeks ago, we all celebrated and commiserated together, taking comfort in the fact that we could crowd around the TV at the pub, or our homes and share the highs and lows with our friends, neighbours and colleagues."

"There's something so special about discussing a moment you saw live with a friend or colleague and as these survey results show, people truly feel that they are witnessing history, which is something we'll all be able to enjoy while watching the Paris Olympics over the next couple of weeks."

"Having the best sporting moments available all in one place and for free means that you won't have to miss a moment. It's extremely important to make sure live sports on TV stay free and easily accessible to everyone."