Ten things to know from what happened in the world of sport. September 21-27, 2021. Motorcycling tragedy, 100th F1 win, Europe gives and receives beatings...
  1. Two beatings. Europe received their biggest Ryder Cup beating ever by losing 19-9 to the United States of America, in Wisconsin (USA). The US team fielded its youngest team ever to win by the biggest margin sine 1967. Meanwhile in Tennis, Europe defeated Team Globe by 14-1.
  2. 100th win. Lewis Hamilton (ENG, Mercedes) became the first driver to reach 100 Grand Prix victories, by taking the 2021 Russian Grand Prix. He chased Lando Norris (ENG, McLaren) in the later part of the race until the McLaren driver decide to stay on track and not change tires during increasingly wet track conditions. Hamilton entered on a timely fashion to take the win, 53 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen (NED, Red Bull), who also pit on the right time and finished with a great result, having started last. Third was Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP, Ferrari).
  3. Tragedy again. This has been a tragic year for motorcycling, with the death of three teenage riders in high profile races. Last weekend, 15 year-old Dean Berta Viñales (ESP) died after a fall in the first race of the Supersport 300 World Championship in Jerez (ESP). This was his debut year. He had four point-scoring races in a row, including a season best of fifth in France. As a tribute to him the racing activity at Jerez was halted on Saturday and resumed on Sunday.
  4. Ganassi’s eye. Chip Ganassi is an expert on identifying the best talent to bring to the IndyCar Series. He proved it once again, as his driver Álex Palou (ESP) won the IndyCar Championship in his first season with the team. Josef Newgarden (USA, Penske) secured the second place in the Championship, after winning the season finale in Long Beach, California. Patricio O’Ward (MEX, McLaren) was third.
  5. Usyk beat Joshua. Oleksandr Usyk (UKR) took home the WBO, IBF and WBA Heavyweight World Titles by beating Anthony Joshua (ENG), in Tottenham (ENG). Usyk clearly dominated the bout in a masterclass. He was previously the unified Cruiserweight Champion and also Olympic gold medalist. Joshua will exercise his right for a rematch, in 2022.
  6. Alaphilippe repeats. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA), a Tokyo 2020 absentee, successfully defended his UCI Road Cycling World Championship by winning in Flanders (BEL). He escaped with 18 kilometers to go, to never be caught again. The podium was completed by Dylan van Baarle (NED) and Michael Valgren (DNK). Elisa Balsamo (ITA) won a breakthrough Women’s World Championship, against a devastated Marianne Vos (NED), who had to settle for second. Germany won the Mixed Team race, ahead of Netherlands and Italy.
  7. Debütants! Ethiopian newcomers dominated the Berlin Marathon. Gotytom Gebreslase (ETH, 26) won the Berlin Marathon (part of the World Marathon Majors) on her very first Marathon race! Meanwhile, Guye Adola (ETH, 30) took his first Marathon win in a competition with heavy attrition rate. Track legend Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) made his Marathon debut, 18 months after his last competition, and finished third,  behind Bethwel Yegon (KEN). Bart Swings (BEL) won his seventh Berlin Marathon Inline Skate race while Marcel Hüg (SUI) and Manuela Schär (SUI) won on for a sixth time.
  8. Best archer ever? Kim Woo-jin (KOR) is now arguably the most successful archer of all time, after having swiped with all three Men’s Recurve gold medals at the 2021 World Archery Championships: individual, team and mixed team. He has now won 7 World titles in addition to two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup. He is also  the third man and the fourth archer in history to win three world titles individually. He teamed up with An San to win the Mixed Team gold medal. She also won gold in Women’s team and took bronze in women’s individual, which was won by another Korean, Jang Min-hee.
  9. Cliff Diving show. Gary Hunt (FRA) won a record-extending 9th Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, out of 12 that have been held. He had already secured the title in the previous stop but still won the season finale, in Polignano a Mare, Italy, including a ‘perfect ten’ dive. Meanwhile, Rhiannan Iffland (AUS) extended her record for most consecutive Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series wins to 12 in a row since 2018 by winning. She had also clinched her fifth consecutive World Series title, which she received here.
  10. Wildwater. The Slalom and Wildwater Canoe / Kayak World Championships took place in Slovakia. Ricarda Funk (DEU) became the first athlete to win gold at the Olympic Games and World Championships in the same year, by taking the Women’s K1. Another German, Elena Apel, won the C1 to take her first international win. Jessica Fox (AUS) failed to make either of the C1 or K1 Finals but rebounded to win the Women’s Extreme Slalom, over Apel. France and Czech Republic were the most successful nations in the event.