Last year was a year of recovery in the world, with ups and downs due to the pandemic. It affected the sports industry as a whole, but differently: some sports remained practically shut down, while others went back to full stadiums.
Regardless of the wider -and more important- global context, sports had moments last year that remind us why we love it.
Sports remind us and represent very different areas of the spectrum that make the human condition special: beauty and effort, upsets, pushing boundaries, longevity, breakthrough, dominance and closeness. Last year was no exception.
At The Sportspedia we curate the world of sport. Part of it entails rescuing those moments that ought to be remembered in the future and not get lost in the abundance of information.
Here we share with you a list of moments to relieve and remember in the sports world, for 2021.
This is not a ranking per se, as it is a very subjective exercise, unlike our Sportspedia 100 List of the world’s best sportspeople, which is results-based. It also does not try to reflect the “most important” moments or the “best moments” and it certainly does not represent “the most popular moments”.
Rather it is an exercise to rescue 96 moments that we believe need to be remembered in the future, as moments to further savor and look back at again, and again.
These are moments to remember from 2021 that remind us of the beauty of sport and that ought to be written down in sports history when looking back at this year:
1) The greatest athletic race of all-time
In a race. for the ages, Karsten Warholm (NOR) broke a World Record by over .7 seconds, to become the first man to race the event in under 46 seconds (45.94 seconds). Furthermore, the second-placed Rai Benjamin (USA) broke it for over half a second, and the third-placed Alison dos Santos (BRA) went below the three-decades-old World Record that stood from 1992 to 2021. The race saw three continental records and six national records. The goosebumps still linger.
2) The deadly frontier
The K2 was the last 8,000 mountain that has not been conquered during winter, due to its hard conditions. For decades, mountaineers had failed, some paying with their lives. On January 16, three teams comprising ten Nepalese climbers achieved the feat for the first time. Nirmal Purja did it without oxygen. One of the world’s final frontiers had been conquered.
3) Epic retirement
The July 2021 Grand Sumo Tournament saw probably the greatest sumo fight of all time. Coming off a historic comeback from the lowest divisions, Terunofuji (MNG) was the favorite to beat Hakuhō Shō (JPN), who was coming off a knee injury to compete for the first time in the year -and last time in his career-. Both had a perfect 14-0 record in the tournament. The 36-year-old closed his career as the greatest of all time in the greatest possible way, winning an epic clash.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8Td607AxbA
4) Tears of triumph
The 2021 X Games saw one of the most beautiful moments action sports will ever see and an example of what sport is all about. After six failed attempts, 12-year-old Gui Khoury (BRA) only had one more chance to land the first-ever 1080° in competition and was first congratulated and brought to tears by the greatest of all-time, Tony Hawk (USA), who at age 53 returned to competition in that very same competition for the first time since 2003. Khoury won gold.
5) The best in the world
Rafael Nadal (ESP) and Novak Djokovic (SRB) have been at least half of the equation in some of the greatest tennis matches of all time. Their clash in this year’s Roland Garros Semifinals is not at the heights of the 2008 Wimbledon Final or the 2021 Australian Open Final and it “only” lasted four sets, but it still has to be considered one of the best of all time. The play at the Court Philippe Chatrier was so beautiful that the French government suspended its pandemic curfew. Djokovic started being down 0-5 and came back to beat Nadal in the tournament he has dominated -including an epic third set tiebreak-, to let it clear that he is the best tennis player of all time, and perhaps the best sportsperson in the world.
6) The Holy Shot
James Conrad (USA) almost certainly threw the greatest disc shot ever, a 247-foot baby anhyzer in the 18th hole, his only chance to potentially win the Disc Golf World Championship in a mano a mano against the best player of all-time, Paul McBeth (USA). McBeth had done everything right until his disc ended in the water in that 18th, and Conrad pulled an all-time classic win, the greatest that this sport has seen.
7) The Fury
Tyson Fury (ENG) has won ” for once and for all” his Heavyweight trilogy against Deontay Wilder (USA) 3-0 but the number does not fully represent the drama of the third fight, especially Round 4. After almost knocking Wilder Down in round 3, Fury was knocked down twice in the fourth round and was almost saved by the bell…Only to come back and eventually batter Wilder down, knocking him down in rounds 10 and 11, when he stopped his opponent. It is one of the all-time greatest Heavyweight fights.
8) The first treble
Sifan Hassan (NED) and Letesenbet Gidey (ETH) had run the fastest women’s 10,000 meters of all time two months prior and lined up for an epic clash. Gidey opened the final lap first but Hassan pulled a final sprint that gave her the first Olympic treble ever: winning gold in 5000, and 10000 meters, and bronze in the 1500 meters. Then came Kalkidan Gezahenge (BHR) and Gidey, The three of them had to be dramatically assisted as they crossed the line. We had witnessed an epic race.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofhzn6VSbmw
9) Homecoming performance for the ages
A standing ovation of two minutes that the Russian public gave to their 15-year-old prodigy, Kamila Valieva (RUS) were warranted after she had delighted them with the best women’s figure skating routine ever performed, at the ISU Grand Prix Rostelecomm Cup. At the rhythm of Maurice Ravel’s Bolero (1928), she has continued to improve her routine, reaching a mind-blowing level. She broke her own Short Program, Free Skate, and Total World Records, two of which she had previously set at the Skate Canada breaking the Short Program, Freestyle, and Overall. Her score was 185.29.
10) Annapurna III was conquered “by 3 unknown guys”
The Southeastern Ridge of the Annapurna III was labeled by some as “the great mountaineering challenge of the 20th century”. After forty years of failed attempts -the closest was in 1981-, a group of three amateurs, unsponsored Ukrainians: Viacheslav Polezhaiko, Nikita Balabanov, and Mikhail Fomin were able to conquer it just eating one and a half energy bars per day for the final six days, sent near collapse to Kathmandu (NPL) when they reached the basecamp. They had conquered the 3-km wall at the 7,555m summit.
11) Emma Raducanu shocks tennis
Entering the Tennis US Open, Emma Raducanu (ENG) was ranked 150th in the world, meaning she had to go through the qualifying tournament. That did not deter her. She won all 10 matches en route winning the tournament, without dropping a single set. The upset of the year and one of the greatest of all-time.
12) World Record strides
Italy won the Men’s Team Pursuit at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games thanks to a comeback in the last meters, where they overtook Denmark, which seemed unlikely with seconds to go. Both teams were under the World Record.
13) A snow ballet
Dmitry Loginov (RUS) beat Roland Fischnaller (ITA) in a very tight Parallel Giant Slalom at the PGS World Championships by just .01 seconds, in a beautiful race where it seemed as if they were coordinated.
14) The second was not enough
Juan Francisco Estrada (MEX) and Román González (NIC) gave boxing fights one of the best fights of the year in their second bout, where Estrada won via a split decision that did not leave everyone comfortable. Their third fight will take place in 2022. Their first one was in 2021.
15) World Record by one centimeter!
In his very last throw Denis Gnezdilov (RUS) needed exactly a World Record-setting throw of 11.16 meters to beat Garrah Tnaiash (IRQ) in the Men’s Shot Put F40 at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Tnaiash had set a World Record of 11.15 in the previous shot. He did it. Third was Miguel Monteiro (POR), the previous World Record holder.
16) An epic under the mud
The 2021 Paris-Roubaix road race was a modern cycling classic. After more than six hours competing under heavy rain and mud, the top three entered the Vélodrome André-Pétrieux in a final sprint. Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) won his debut, over Florian Vermeersch (BEL) and Mathieu van der Poel (NED).
17) Double frontflip BASE jump
Thomas Pagés (FRA) keeps on finding new frontiers in freestyle motocross. An example was the incredible first-ever motorcycle BASE Jump that included a double frontflip…
18) Golden takedown
21-year-old Gable Steveson (USA) transformed an 8-5 deficit in the very last second to beat ample favorite Geno Petriashvili (GEO) for the Men’s Greco-Roman 125kg gold medal in Tokyo 2020.
19) An all-time upset
Amanda Nunes (BRA) is widely considered the best female Mixed Martial Arts fighter of all-time. Having not lost since 2014, it seemed quite unlikely that she would have been beaten by Julianna Peña (VEN, 10-4), but that is just what happened via a demolishing KO, to win the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship.
20) In the last meters!
The Men Elite Cross-Country Olympic at the UCI MTB World Championships was defined in the very last meters, as Nino Schurter (CHE) passed countryman Mathias Flückiger, in a very exciting race.
21) Jumping tie
After a triple fail attempting the 2.39 meters, Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) and Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA) agreed to tie and share the gold medal, the second for Qatar in the Olympic Games.
22) Fourth-time rivalry
For the fourth time, both Gold Medals (NZL) -ridden by Clayton Douglas (AUS)- and Zed Em (NZL) -ridden by Aaron Kuru (AUS)- clashed in the Australian Grand Annual steeplechase, with Gold Medals winning a thrilling race that gives him his second him in four years, while Zed Em has one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXTu8mmxcrc
23) The Baruntse ‘heavenly trap‘
Czech climbers Marek “Mara” Holecek -two-time Piolet d’Or recipient- and Radoslav “Radar” Groh climbed a new route on the west face of Baruntse (7129m) in Nepal. In what they described as as “heavenly trap”, they survived for ten days with provisions for six.
24) Also the women
The Women’s 400 meters Hurdles at Tokyo 2020 was also impressive. Year-long rivals Sydney McLaughlin (USA) and Dalilah Muhammad (USA) gave a spectacle, both running under the previous World Record. McLaughlin won with 51.46, while Femke Bol (NED) was third.
25) Torquator Tasso’s 80-1 win
Torquator Tasso, ridden by Rene Piechulek (DEU) in his first Longchamp stellar participation, gave Germany a third victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as he caused a tremendous 80-1 upset in the big European race, with a great finish. It was one of the greatest all-time upsets in the race.
26) Never-before-seen
Czech-Austrian Matej Svancer landed but two never-before-seen tricks to win the World Cup Big Air win in Steamboat (USA). Svancer first did a switch left triple cork 1440 safety, slowing his rotation for a “tokyo drift” landing -basically landing sideways- and then threw a nose-butter triple cork 1980 safety to secure 98 points.
27) Four-decades winner
Andrasch Starke (DEU) has now won the Deutsches Derby win in 4 decades, after taking a very exciting Deutsches Derby with Sisfahan (FR), who pressed and overtook in the final stretch.
28) No sweep for China
Thomas Daley and Matty Lee (ENG) upset China’s Yuan Cao and Aisen Chen to win the mens’ 10 meters synchronized platform event at Tokyo 2020 by one mere point. It was the gold medal China let go in diving.
29) 1260
Mike Varga (CAN) won his second medal of the day and second consecutive golden pedal in Dave Mirra’s BMX Park Best Trick, thanks to his landing of a 1260 – the first time the trick had been thrown in a competition.
30) A hurricane
Hurricane Lane (IRL) and William Buick (NOR) completed a late-stage pass against Lone Eagle (IRL) to deny Frankie Dettori (ITA) the Irish Derby win in a very exciting race.
31) Side-by-side
Kendall Gretsch (USA) and Lauren Parker (AUS) were side by side for a great part of the Women’s Paratriathon Wheelchair race at Tokyo 2020, before Gretsch pushed at the very end to win gold. Their great duel left the 3rd place 8 mins back.
32 Forza!
Federica Cesarini and Valentina Rodini (ITA) broke the Lightweight women’s double sculls World Best in the Semifinals but were third with a few meters to end the Olympic Final. With a fierce closing, they took the win and the gold medal, with one second separating five boats.
33) A great final match
Jokin Altuna (ESP) won Basque Pelota’s Cuatro y Medio defeating Unai Laso (ESP) in a fantastic 22-20 Final, with great points and saves, at the Bizkaia de Bilbao Frontón.
34) Dragon fire
It was “only” a Semifinal match but Dmitrij Ovtcharov (DEU) and Ma Long (CHN) had a fantastic match that ended 4-1 for the eventual Olympic Champion: China’s Dragon.
35) Five-times World Record
Sumit Sumit (IND) won the Men’s Javelin Throw F44 breaking the World Record five times, in a very competitive event where the next three competitors were also above the World Record.
36) Closer than 3-0
Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) and ‘Magic Man’ David Taylor (USA) had a great Freestyle Wrestling Men’s 86kg final combat in Tokyo 2020, defined in the last seconds. Yazdani Charati was ahead 3-2 but a technique gave Taylor the 3-4 win. It was the third win in a row for Taylor against him.
37) A hidden gem
The AMV Cup Motorcycle race of the Andros Trophy at Isola 2000. Vivien Gonnet (FRA) and Sylvain Dabert (FRA) had a side-by-side battle in their race that ended with Gonnet winning.
38) A breakthrough upset!
18 year-old Athiwat Peang-nuea (THA) was not on the radar to win the 100 meters T54 wheelchair race at Tokyo 2020 but he pulled a huge upset against the 4-time Champion and World Record holder Leo-Pekka Tähti (FIN)! A big surprise.
39) The breakthrough and farewell
Dawid Tomala (POL) had never competed in a 50-kilometer race walk competition and was an outsider to win the final Olympic competition in this distance but he stunned everyone to pull the gold.
40) An exciting run to untie
Daniel Deusser (DEU) had an incredible jump-off run upon Bingo Ste Hermelle to win the Longines Global Champions Tour event in Valkenswaard by over one second against all four other jump-off contenders.
41) Closest World Rally ever
The World Rally Championship’s Rally Croatia saw the closest ever World Rally, as Elfyn Evans (WAL, Toyota) made a small mistake in the closing part of the last stage, which allowed Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (FRA, Toyota) to take the win by 0.6 seconds.
42) You can pass in Monaco
Monte Carlo does not need to have carrousels as races. António Félix da Costa (POR) won the ABB FIA Formula E World ChampionshipRound 7 with an exciting last-lap pass, in a race that had several overtaking maneuvers.
43) Forget “by the nearest of margins”
New Zealand won the first ICC World Test Championship after beating India in the final hour of a reserve day at the Hampshire Bowl.
44) The fourth was good
Hassan Yazdani Charati (IRI) finally beat David Taylor (USA) after the US American had defeated him three times, including a nail-biter Olympic Final. The Iranian redeemed himself with the gold medal at the World Championship, in the Men’s Freestyle 86 kg category.
45) Penalties, passes…
The first Formula 1 Saudi Grand Prix saw an exciting duel between Max Verstappen (NED, Red Bull) and Lewis Hamilton (ENG, Mercedes) that saw passes, contacts, stoppages, and penalties. Hamilton won this race.
46) A key, great race
Six-time World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea (NIR) rarely falls, but he did while disputing a fantastic Portugal Race 1 in Algarve. This left Scott Redding (ENG) and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (TUR) battling it all out. The Turkish won. This was a key race for Toprak’s Championship-winning run.
47) From zero to heroes
The Benetton Rugby Team (ITA) defeated the Bulls 35-8 (ZAF) to win the intercontinental Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup in Treviso. This was incredible, considering they had finished last in the Guinness Pro14 with 15 defeats out of 15 games.
48) The strongest
Lasha Talakhadze (GEO) won the Olympic Men’s +109 kg division while improving his World Record to 488 kilos -also breaking the Snatch and Clean & Jerk records-, 37 kilos ahead of his nearest rival.
49) The triple cork
Closing the year, Ayumu Hirano (JPN) landed the first-ever triple cork in a Superpipe competition, in his last run of the FIS Snowboard World CUp in Copper Mountain. Yūto Totsuka (JPN) won what was a very good competition.
50) Redemption for Cheruiyot
After almost missing the Olympic Games and being defeated in Tokyo 2020’s 1500 meters by Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR), Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) was able to win in the closing stages of the Diamond League Final.
51) Olympic KO!
Oleksandr Khyzhniak (UKR) was the clear favorite to win the Men’s Middleweight Boxing division at Tokyo 2020 but Hebert William Carvalho da Conceiçao Sousa (BRA) had different plans, as he Knocked him Out to take a surprise gold medal.
50) Redemption for Cheruiyot
After almost missing the Olympic Games and being defeated in Tokyo 2020’s 1500 meters by Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR), Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) was able to win in the closing stages of the Diamond League Final.
52) Alaphillippe’s chilling attack
The Men’s Cycling Road Race at the World Championship was very good. It was especially chilling to see Julian Alaphillippe’s (FRA) closing attack that gave him the gold medal, by himself. No one could have beat him that day.
53) Even stronger
After winning the Olympic Men’s +109 kg weightlifting competition, Lasha Talakhadze (GEO) improved his World Record at the World Championship with a total of 492 kilos lifted, 25 ahead of his nearest rival.
54) Comeback of the year
After a 13-year retirement and overcoming Lyme’s disease, Laia Sanz (ESP) came back to compete in the Women’s Trial World Championship and won her comeback event in Italy and eventually she won the World Championship ahead of Emma Bristow (ENG), who had been unfdefeated in years. She topped our Sportspedia 30 List for the Biggest Comeback in 2020-21.
55) Brutal downhill
Myriam Nicole (FRA) had a brutal run in the Mountain Bike World Championship Women’s Downhill, winning by nearly 5 seconds!
56) By a boat length!
Long sailing competitions are rarely defined within the last meters but just that happened in the IMOCA Class in the first The Ocean Race Europe. Offshore Team Germany needed to finish second in the last stage and they did so, by finishing ahead of LinkedOut in the very last seconds.
57) Triple dead heat
Innsbruck’s (AUT) Skeleton World Cup race saw the unlikely happening for the first time: a triple tie for the gold medal between Geng Wenqiang (CHN), Matt Weston (GBR) and Christopher Grotheer (GER).
58) Over 10 minutes
It took Shohei Ono (JPN) 10:26 minutes to defeat Lasha Shavdatuashvili (GEO) great 10:26 Men’s Judo Under 73 kg epic final between two Olympic Champions.
59) Golden score
In an 8-minute combat, Uta Abe (JPN) managed to beat Amandine Buchard (FRA) won the women’s Judo 52 kg division with a golden score, in the same day that her brother Hifumi Abe (JPN) also won a gold medal.
60) Emotional gold for Estonia
The Estonian women’s epee team came from behind to defeat South Korea, giving the country its first Olympic gold medal since 2008. Katrina Lehis, Julia Beljajeva, Erika Kirpu and Irina Embrich won by 36:32 to take Gold.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMrhcjwTSjs
61) Dead heat
The G1 Old Forester Turf Classic ended with two winners, as Domestic Spending (ENG) -ridden by Flavien Prat (FRA)- caught Colonel Liam (USA) -ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. (PUR) at the finish line of a great race in Kentucky.
62) A dash under the rain
Dina Asher – Smith (ENG) beat Sha’Carri Richardson (USA) in an exciting, rainy Women’s 100m race at Gateshead (ENG) that some thought would have been a prelude to Tokyo 2020, except it wouldn’t be. Eventaul Olympic silver medalist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM), was just fourth in this race. Eventual Olympic Champion, Elaine Thompson-Herah (JAM), was absent.
63) A golf slugfest
Harris English (USA) defeated Kramer Hickok (USA) with a birdie putt in their eight playoff hole, the second-longest sudden-death playoff in PGA TOUR history, at the Travelers Championship. These were several mistakes which added to the excitement of the ending.
64) Late charge
Empress Josephine (IRL) won the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh after a late charge beating stablemate Joan Of Arc (IRL) in a good race. It was the second consecutive win in the race for jockey Seamie Heffernan (IRL).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWolfKfGs-c
65) Three under World Record
Following a complaint, the Women’s 50m freestyle S11 final at Tokyo 2020 had to be repeated. This did not stop three swimmers to repeat the race under the World Record, with Ma Jia (CHN) and Li Guizhi (CHN) surprising Karolina Pelendritou (CYP), who had broken the World Record during the heats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWolfKfGs-c
66) Golden girls
Hongchan Quan (CHN) and Yuxi Chen (CHN), 14 and 15 years-old, respectively, topped women’s 10m platform diving gold, with Quan receiving several perfect tens.
https://olympics.com/en/video/women-s-10m-platform-final-diving-tokyo-2020-replays
67) World Record Podium
Dinesh Priyan Herath Mudiyanselage won the first ever Paralympic gold medal for Sri Lanka, in great fashion. He broke the Men’s Javelin F46 World Record by 4 meters. The other two podium finishers -Devendra Jhajharia (IND) and Sundar Singh Gurjar (IND) were also ahead of the previous World Record.
68) 50 meters by almost 6 seconds!
Lu Dong (CHN) had a monstruous performance in Tokyo 2020’s Women’s 50 meters freestyle S5, winning the Final by 6 seconds and breaking the World Record by 1!
69) Marathon debut win!
Gotytom Gebreslase (ETH) won the Berlin Marathon Women’s race in just her very first Marathon competition.
https://www.nbcsports.com/video/ethiopias-guye-adola-gotytom-gebreslase-win-2021-berlin-marathon
70) France stunned hosts
The men’s mixed team judo competitiona. tTokyo 2020 could have been a sweeet homecoimg for Japan but France’s team -with an excellent generation of judokas- pulled the upset and won 4-1, with wins by Teddy Riner, Clarisse Agbegnenou, Axel Clerget, and Romane Dicko.
71) Ngannu dethrones Miocic
Francis Ngannu (CMR/FRA) defeated Stipe Miocic (USA) with a brutal KO to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship, three years after their first fight. had ended with a decision win for Miocic.
72) Snowy dead heat
Epatante (FRA) -under Aidan Coleman (IRL)- and Not So Sleepy (ENG) -under Jonathan Burke (IRL)- shared the win in a dramatic, snowy Fighting Fifth Hurdle in Newcastle.
73) Finally gold for Agbegnenou!
It took a golden point but finally Clarisse Agbegnenou (FRA) won an Olympic gold medal -after being a World Champion five times-, by beating. her biggest rival, Tina Trstenjak (SVN), who frustrated her in 2016.
74) Cai and Wang
The Women’s 100 meters backstroke S11 saw two swimmers swimming under the World Record, with Cai Liwen (CHN) taking the gold over Wang Xinyi (CHN)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeCpXdw3oC8
75) Upset over the locals
Massimo Stano (ITA) had not competed outside of Italy yet he pulled the upset in Tokyo 2020’s 20 km race walk over the heavy-favorite Japanese competitors.
https://olympics.com/en/video/men-s-20km-race-walk-athletics-tokyo-2020-replays
76) New generation
Benoit Cosnefroy (FRA) beat World Champion countryman Julian Alaphilippe in a thrilling end to the Bretagne Classic – Ouest-France (1.UWT) to win his first World Tour race.
77) Precision, mistakes and lead changes
If you have never watched a Boccia game, the BC1 Semifinal 1 between eventual gold medallist, David Smith (ENG) and eventual bronze medal winner, José Carlos Chagas de Oliveira (BRA) is a good start to see a fantastic match.
78) Kipyegon held Hassan off
After Sifan Hassan’s (NED) three medals inTokyo 2020, she tried to also establish herself as the best in the women’s 1500 meters but Tokyo 2020’s gold meadlist, Faith Kipyegon (KEN), held off her onslaught in the final meters of the Diamond League Final.
79) A chase to win
Local Benjamin Thomas (FRA) came from behind, chasing sprint by sprint, until he won the gold medal in the Men’s Point Race at the Track Cycling World Championship. in Roubaix.
80) Another local win
After 7 minutes, Naohisa Takato (JPN) landed a Waza-ari on long-time rival Yeldos Smetov (KAZ) to win their great Men’s 60 kg Judo Semifinal in Tokyo 2020, where he would eventually win the gold medal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op67PUN-2qU
81) 4 horses, so what?
Only 4 horses contested the Irish Champion Stakes but it was still a great race, where St Mark’s Basilica (FRA) -under Ryan Moore (ENG) won a great final stretch over Tanrnawa (IRL).
82) Great final year
Aged 55 and 53, respectively, former Olympic Champions, Roman Hagara (AUT) and Hans-Peter Steinacher (AUT) had their farewell year and it included the GC32 World Championship, where they won as part of Red Bull Sailing, ahead of two-time America’s Cup winners Alinghi (CHE), due to a count back, after Alighi had problems and only finished 7th in the final regatta.
83) Last lap championship
Stephane Rouault (FRA) needed a last lap pass in Interlagos to win the final race and GPVWC Simracing Championship. He achieved it with a masterful move.
84) Fraternal rivalry
Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken (DEU) successfully defended their Doubles world title at the World Championships at Koenigssee (DEU). It was their fourth title in a row, again ahead their German teammates Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt. Halfway through the last round, just .002 of a second separated them.
85) Eilen Gu didn’t need poles
17 year-old sensation Eilen Gu (CHN) did not need poles to become a World Champion for the first time. She could not use her poles after fracturing a finger and tearing the UCL in her thumb yet she still won the Women’s Freestyle Ski Halfpipe and Slopestyle Championships.
86) Boxing’s upset of the year?
Teófimo López (HND) was ranked pound for pound when George Kambosos Jr (AUS/GRC) demolished him to win the WBA, IBF, WBO, and The Ring Lightweight Championships a year after López had defeated Vasyl Lomachenko (UKR). It was a big upset. anda superb performance.
87) 3-way battle for the lead
F1 Esports started its 2021 Championship with a great race that included a 3-way battle for the lead in last lap, in a race won by Lucas Blakeley (ENG).
88) Duck in the water
Patricio O’Ward (MEX) had a great Detroit 2 IndyCar race. He was 6th with 12 laps to go -and it didn’t look as if he had much chance of winning- but he started passing the legends of the series to take lead with 3 laps to go and take an emphatic win.
89) Last lap pass
Olympic Mountain Bike Champion, Thomas Pidcock (ENG), beat Eli Iserbyt (BEL) in very last lap of the Cyclo Cross World Cup in Rucphen, passing him in the final hurdles to take an exciting win.
90) All or nothing
Going into the last lift, Amalia Pérez (MEX) was fourth with 126 kilos as her best mark. The leading lift was 130 kilos so she decided to go all out for the gold, with 131 kilos. Gold or nothing. She successfully lifted her attempt and waited for Lucy Ejike (NGR), who failed on her 135 kilos attempt. This way, Pérez won her fourth consecutive gold medal in a fourth different weight class at the Paralympic Games, and perhaps establishe dherself as the best of all time in the sport among women.
91) Cannone’s upset gold
Romain Cannone (FRA) was just 47th in the World Ranking going into Tokyo 2020’s Men’s individual épée competition. That didnt stop him from taking gold, beating. thefavorites: Olympic Champion Limardo (VEN), 7th ranked Verwijlen (NED), 2nd ranked Bida (RUS, ROC), 3rd ranked Reizlin (UKR), and finally 1st ranked Siklosi (HUN).
92) Usyk’s masterclass
Olekasandr Usyk (UKR) was an undisputed Cruiserweight Champion before jumping to Heavyweight. In his third Heavyweight fight he challenged Anthony Joshua (ENG) for WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO Heavyweight titles, which he won with an absolute masterclass.
93) Malangu’s jump
Ntando Mahlangu (ZAF) had an impressive T63 Long Jump at the Paralympic Games where he broke the World Record by. astunning half a meter, en route to taking gold. He also won gold in the men’s 200 meters T63.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA4v931VQns
94) Monstrous World Record
Abdelkareem Khattab (JOR) didn’t only crush the Men’s 88kg competition at the World Para Powerlifting World Championship but he did it with a World Record of 250 kilograms, which would have also been enough to be a World Record in the Men’s 97 kg and 107 kg categories. The silve rmedalist recorded 212 kg.
Saúl Álvarez became the first unified Super Middleweight Champion by beating Billy Joe. Saunders (ENG) in a masterclass. It is worth it reliving this fight to appreciate how good the best pound for pound is. One in a generation.
95) Canelo’s unification
Saúl Álvarez (MEX) became the first unified Super Middleweight Champion by beating Billy Joe. Saunders (ENG) in a masterclass. It is worth it reliving this fight to appreciate how good the best pound for pound is. One in a generation.
96) 98.75
José Vitor Leme (BRA) scored a PBR record of 98.75 points in the World Finals, which was impressive considering that before this year, the PBR record since 1999 had been 96.5 points. Leme arguably also had the best season of all-time.
