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| Andy Murray: 10 very, very long waits for sporting glory | Andy Murray: 10 very, very long waits for sporting glory |
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| It took 77 years to banish the spectre of Fred Perry. What are the other big waits in global sport, asks Tom de Castella. | It took 77 years to banish the spectre of Fred Perry. What are the other big waits in global sport, asks Tom de Castella. |
| 104 years. The Chicago Cubs have not won baseball's World Series since 1908 - it will be 105 years by the time the World Series is contested this October. They have become known as the "Loveable Losers". They came close in 1984 but were deprived of a place in the World Series final after losing out to the San Diego Padres. Some attribute the extent of the drought to a curse placed by a disgruntled goat owner. | 104 years. The Chicago Cubs have not won baseball's World Series since 1908 - it will be 105 years by the time the World Series is contested this October. They have become known as the "Loveable Losers". They came close in 1984 but were deprived of a place in the World Series final after losing out to the San Diego Padres. Some attribute the extent of the drought to a curse placed by a disgruntled goat owner. |
| 113 years is India's wait for track and field medal at the Olympics. In India's first Olympics, Paris 1900, its only team member, Norman Pritchard, won two silvers. London 2012 was India's most successful Olympics in terms of total numbers of medals - two silver and four bronze in shooting, wrestling, badminton and boxing. There was a period when India dominated men's hockey - winning six successive gold medals from 1928-1956. But no athletics medals. | 113 years is India's wait for track and field medal at the Olympics. In India's first Olympics, Paris 1900, its only team member, Norman Pritchard, won two silvers. London 2012 was India's most successful Olympics in terms of total numbers of medals - two silver and four bronze in shooting, wrestling, badminton and boxing. There was a period when India dominated men's hockey - winning six successive gold medals from 1928-1956. But no athletics medals. |
| 28 years since anyone from France won the Tour de France. Bernard Hinault in 1985 was the last. Hinault and fellow Frenchman Laurent Fignon between them won the Tour five times in a row 1981-1985. But France still has more Tour wins than any other country. | 28 years since anyone from France won the Tour de France. Bernard Hinault in 1985 was the last. Hinault and fellow Frenchman Laurent Fignon between them won the Tour five times in a row 1981-1985. But France still has more Tour wins than any other country. |
| 123 years since Preston North End won the title. It last won the English football league first division in the 1889-90 season. In those days they were known as the Invincibles. They are still waiting to repeat the feat. They may be waiting another 123 years, unkind rival fans might add… | 123 years since Preston North End won the title. It last won the English football league first division in the 1889-90 season. In those days they were known as the Invincibles. They are still waiting to repeat the feat. They may be waiting another 123 years, unkind rival fans might add… |
| 49 years of hurt for the US women's volleyball team. The US has never won an Olympic Gold in women's indoor volleyball, which became an Olympic sport in 1964. The team were seeded first at London 2012 but succumbed to Brazil in the final. By contrast the women's beach volleyball team have won golds at three successive Olympics. | 49 years of hurt for the US women's volleyball team. The US has never won an Olympic Gold in women's indoor volleyball, which became an Olympic sport in 1964. The team were seeded first at London 2012 but succumbed to Brazil in the final. By contrast the women's beach volleyball team have won golds at three successive Olympics. |
| 37 years since an Australian won the men's singles at the Australian Open. The last man to do so was Mark Edmondson when he beat John Newcombe in an all Australian final in 1976. He is the lowest ranked player (212) to win a Grand Slam. Since then there have been Aussie grand slam winners - Pat Cash, Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt - but no winner at their home championship. The wait for a woman winner is two years shorter - in 1978 Chris O'Neil won the women's singles final. | 37 years since an Australian won the men's singles at the Australian Open. The last man to do so was Mark Edmondson when he beat John Newcombe in an all Australian final in 1976. He is the lowest ranked player (212) to win a Grand Slam. Since then there have been Aussie grand slam winners - Pat Cash, Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt - but no winner at their home championship. The wait for a woman winner is two years shorter - in 1978 Chris O'Neil won the women's singles final. |
| 37 years Morocco have been waiting for African Cup of Nations glory. The Atlas Lions won the competition in 1976 but despite qualifying for four World Cup finals have never again lifted the African trophy. They were runners-up to Tunisia in 2004. | 37 years Morocco have been waiting for African Cup of Nations glory. The Atlas Lions won the competition in 1976 but despite qualifying for four World Cup finals have never again lifted the African trophy. They were runners-up to Tunisia in 2004. |
| 38 years of waiting for England to win the Cricket World Cup. The competition, which takes place every four years, began in 1975. England, despite hosting the tournament four times and reaching the final on three occasions, have never lifted the trophy. | 38 years of waiting for England to win the Cricket World Cup. The competition, which takes place every four years, began in 1975. England, despite hosting the tournament four times and reaching the final on three occasions, have never lifted the trophy. |
| 85 years the UK has been waiting for gymnastics gold. Beth Tweddle won UK's first ever medal in individual women's gymnastics in 2012, but missed out on gold. In 2008, Louis Smith became the first British male gymnast to win an Olympic medal since Walter Tysall won silver at London 1908. | 85 years the UK has been waiting for gymnastics gold. Beth Tweddle won UK's first ever medal in individual women's gymnastics in 2012, but missed out on gold. In 2008, Louis Smith became the first British male gymnast to win an Olympic medal since Walter Tysall won silver at London 1908. |
| 63 years for a woman to gain a whole point in Formula 1. Five women have entered a grand prix in the history of the Formula 1 World Championship. In 1975 Lella Lombardi came sixth in the Spanish Grand Prix becoming the only woman to register on the scoreboard. Unluckily for her it turned into half-a-point as the race was stopped early. | 63 years for a woman to gain a whole point in Formula 1. Five women have entered a grand prix in the history of the Formula 1 World Championship. In 1975 Lella Lombardi came sixth in the Spanish Grand Prix becoming the only woman to register on the scoreboard. Unluckily for her it turned into half-a-point as the race was stopped early. |
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