This week's Global Podium for the best sportspeople in the world features John Velázquez, Tim Gajser and René Rast.
 Gold: John Velázquez (Puerto Rico, Horse Racing) John Velázquez did not just win two Breeders’ Cup World Championship races, but he also did them with two of the fastest rides in the world this year. He first won the Filly & Mare Sprint mounting Gamine (USA), who set a track record for the seven furlongs at Kenneland and destroyed the rest of the field by six lengths and a quarter, ahead of now-retired Serengeti Empress (USA). With a Beyer Speed of 110, this is the second fastest speed recorded in the US this year for up to one mile. And then came the highlight: Velázquez won the $6 Million USD Breeders’ Cup Classic by mounting Authentic (USA) at a speed of 111 Beyer, the fastest achieved this year in the US for over one mile. Authentic beat one of the most competitive fields that has been seen at the race; Improbable (USA) came second. This win makes a great case for Authentic to be named the North American Horse of the Year, having also won the Kentucky Derby mounted by Velázquez. These Breeders’ Cup wins are the 17th and 18th of Velazquez’ career, which rank him second in the all-time list. Authentic retires as a Champion. Relieve the Breeders’ Cup Classic |
 Silver: Tim Gajser (Slovenia, Motorcycling) Tim Gajser won his third Motocross Grand Prix World Championship (2016, 2019, 2020) and he made it by taking two Grands Prix in the same week: the MXGP of Pietramurata and the MXGP of Garda Trentina, both held at Pietramurata, Italy. In both rounds, Tim finished the first race in 2nd and 1st in the second race. Tim took 16 podiums in the last 17 races for a total of 15 race and 5 round wins out of 17 rounds, and finished 2nd in the Constructors’ Championship with Honda, KTM taking the honors. Jeremy Seewer (SUI) and Romain Febvre (FRA) took the two other races this week. Clément Desalle (BEL), 23-time Grand Prix winner, announced his retirement from competition. Watch the highlights of the MXGP of Garda Trentino 2020 |
 Bronze: René Rast (Germany, Auto Racing) René Rast won his third Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2017, 2019, 2020), which place him second in the all-time list. He won the championship by finishing second and first in the last two races at Hockenheim. He stood on the podium in the last 10 races of the Championship and won 5 of the last 6, eding out Nico Müller (SUI), who had a dominant start of season. Watch the highlights of the season finale (DTM) |
