2001 in sports

Updated on Dec 07, 2024

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Years in sports 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

2001 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

Alpine skiing

Alpine Skiing World Cup

Men's overall season champion: Hermann Maier, Austria

Women's overall season champion: Janica Kostelić, Croatia

American football

Super Bowl XXXV – In their first Super Bowl appearance, the Baltimore Ravens won 34-7 over the New York Giants.

MVP – Ray Lewis (LB)

XFL is founded by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, but the league folded that same year, after the Los Angeles Xtreme won the league's only championship.

Orange Bowl (2000 season) – The Oklahoma Sooners won 13-2 over the Florida State Seminoles in the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game

MVP – Torrance Marshall (LB)

Memorial Stadium, former home of the Baltimore Colts and Baltimore Ravens is demolished

INVESCO Field at Mile High opens up on September 10, 2001 as the Denver Broncos defeated the New York Giants 31-20.

Association football

Confederations Cup – Held one year before the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, this tournament served as a prelude, for both South Korea & Japan and the participating nations. France defeated Japan to win the tournament.

Champions' League – Bayern Munich won 5-4 on penalties, in the final against Valencia, after a 1-1 draw at the end of the match. This was Bayern Munich's 4th European Cup title.

UEFA Cup – Liverpool won 5-4 after extra-time, in the final against Alavés, with an unfortunate own goal/golden goal by Delfi Gelí. This was Liverpool's third UEFA Cup title.

European Super Cup – Liverpool beat Bayern Munich 3-2, winning the cup for the second time.

Intercontinental Cup – Bayern Munich beat Boca Juniors 1-0, winning the cup for the second time.

Asian Champions Cup – Korean side Suwon Samsung Bluewings won their first Asian Champions Cup crown, defeating Júbilo Iwata 1-0. They also lifted the 2001 Asian Super Cup.

Athletics

May – Roman Šebrle breaks a 9.000 points barrier in decathlon event.

August – 2001 World Championships in Athletics held at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Australian rules football

Australian Football League

Fremantle equals St. Kilda's 1910 record for the worst start by a team that did not suffer a winless season, beginning with seventeen losses before a huge comeback upset over third-placed Hawthorn. It was equalled by Greater Western Sydney in 2013.

The Brisbane Lions win the 105th AFL premiership beating Essendon 15.18 (108) to 12.10 (82).

Brownlow Medal awarded to Jason Akermanis (Brisbane Lions)

Baseball

World Series – only 4 seasons old, the Arizona Diamondbacks became the youngest franchise to win a World Series by defeating the New York Yankees 4 games to 3. Series co-MVPs were Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, both of Arizona.

The Seattle Mariners tied the 1906 Chicago Cubs’ record with 116 regular season wins.

Barry Bonds set the record for most home runs in a season with 73.

Season MVPs – National League: Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants. American League: Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners.

Rookies of the Year – National League: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals. American League: Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle.

Cy Young Award – National League: Randy Johnson, Arizona. American League: Roger Clemens, New York.

Japan Series – The Yakult Swallows defeat the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes 4 games to 1. The Swallows' Atsuya Furuta is named Series MVP.

Basketball

NBA –

The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Philadelphia 76ers, 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. The Lakers only loss in the postseason comes in Game 1 of the Finals, which the 76ers win in overtime.

October 30 – Michael Jordan returns to the National Basketball Association with the Washington Wizards after 3½ years (the Wizards lose 93-91 to the New York Knicks).

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship –

Duke wins 82-72 over Arizona

WNBA Finals –

Los Angeles Sparks win 2 games to 0 over the Charlotte Sting, earning the franchise's first championship

Euroleague Final:

In the first Euroleague to be operated by Euroleague Basketball (company), Kinder Bologna defeats TAU Cerámica 3–2 in the best-of-five series.

Suproleague Final:

In the only edition of the rival FIBA-sponsored competition, Maccabi Tel Aviv defeats Panathinaikos 81–67 in the one-off final.

Chinese Basketball Association finals:

Bayi Rockets defeat Shanghai Sharks, 3 games to 1

National Basketball League (Australia) Finals:

Wollongong Hawks defeated the Townsville Crocodiles 2-1 in the best-of-three final series.

After a season of conflict between ULEB and FIBA, the two bodies settle their feud, with the Suproleague merging into the Euroleague.

Boxing

March 3 – John Ruiz defeats Evander Holyfield in their second fight by a decision in 12 rounds, winning the WBA's World Heavyweight Championship, becoming the first Hispanic to win the world Heavyweight title.

June 3 to June 10 – World Amateur Boxing Championships held in Belfast, Northern Ireland

September 29 – in a gala event dedicated to the victims and rescuers of 9/11, Bernard Hopkins defeats Félix Trinidad by a knockout in round 12 to unify the World Middleweight Championship

Canadian football

November 25 – the Calgary Stampeders win the 89th Grey Cup game, defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 27-19 at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

November 29 – the UBC Thunderbirds win the Vanier Cup, defeating the Ottawa Gee-Gees 39-23.

Cricket

February 25 – death of Sir Donald Bradman, Australian Test cricketer who retains the highest Test match batting average of 99.94

The Ashes – Australia defeats England 4-1

V.V.S. Laxman becomes the first Indian to score 250 in a Test match as India fight back from following on to win the Second Test against Australia, ending the Australians' record 16 match winning streak. India goes on to win the series 2-1.

County Championship (England and Wales) – Yorkshire

ICC Trophy – Netherlands

Cycle racing

Road bicycle racing

Giro d'Italia won by Gilberto Simoni of Italy

Tour de France won by Lance Armstrong of USA (Rescinded)

UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race – Óscar Freire of Spain

Cyclo-cross

UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Tábor, Czech Republic (February 3–February 4)

Men's Competition won by Erwin Vervecken

Women's Competition won by Hanka Kupfernagel

Dogsled racing

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion

Doug Swingley with lead dogs: Stormy & Pepi

Field hockey

Men's Champions Trophy: Germany

Women's Champions Trophy: Argentina

Figure skating

World Figure Skating Championships –

Men's champion: Evgeni Plushenko, Russia

Ladies' champion: Michelle Kwan, United States

Pairs' champions: Jamie Salé and David Pelletier, Canada

Ice dance champions: Barbara Fusar-Poli and Maurizio Margaglio

Gaelic Athletic Association

Camogie

All-Ireland Camogie Champion: Tipperary

National Camogie League: Cork

Gaelic football

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship – Galhiway 0-17 died Meath 0-8

National Football League – Mayo 0-13 died Galway 0-12

Ladies' Gaelic football

All-Ireland Senior Football Champion: Laois

National Football League: Clare

Hurling

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship – Tipperary 2-18 died Galway 2-15

National Hurling League –

Golf

Men's professional

Masters Tournament – Tiger Woods becomes the first golfer in history to hold all four major championship titles at the same time.

U.S. Open – Retief Goosen

British Open – David Duval

PGA Championship – David Toms

PGA Tour money leader – Tiger Woods – $5,687,777

PGA Tour Player of the Year – Tiger Woods

PGA Tour Rookie of the Year – Charles Howell III

Senior PGA Tour money leader – Allen Doyle – $2,553,582

Ryder Cup postponed until 2002.

Men's amateur

British Amateur – Michael Hoey

U.S. Amateur – Bubba Dickerson

European Amateur – Stephen Browne

Women's professional

Nabisco Championship – Annika Sörenstam

LPGA Championship – Karrie Webb

U.S. Women's Open – Karrie Webb

Women's British Open – Se Ri Pak

LPGA Tour money leader – Annika Sörenstam – $2,105,868

Handball

2001 World Men's Handball Championship – won by France

2001 World Women's Handball Championship – won by Russia

Harness racing

North America Cup – Bettor's Delight

United States Pacing Triple Crown races –

Cane Pace – Four Starzz Shark
Little Brown Jug – Bettor's Delight
Messenger Stakes – Bagel Beach Boy

United States Trotting Triple Crown races –

Hambletonian – Scarlet Knight
Yonkers Trot – Banker Hall
Kentucky Futurity – Chaising Tail

Australian Inter Dominion Harness Racing Championship –

Pacers: Yulestar

Trotters: Take A Moment

Horse racing

Steeplechases

Cheltenham Gold Cup – not held due to the 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth crisis

Grand National – Red Marauder

Hurdle races

Champion Hurdle – not held due to the 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth crisis

Flat races

September 1, 2001: Jockey Tim Moccasin won his 14th consecutive race, a North American record, at Marquis Downs in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Australia – Melbourne Cup won by Ethereal

Canada – Queen's Plate won by Dancethruthedawn

Dubai – Dubai World Cup won by Captain Steve

France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by Sakhee

Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by Galileo

Japan – Japan Cup won by Jungle Pocket

English Triple Crown races:

2,000 Guineas Stakes – Golan
Epsom Derby – Galileo
St. Leger Stakes – Milan

United States Triple Crown races:

Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships:

Breeders' Cup Classic – Tiznow
Breeders' Cup Distaff – Unbridled Elaine
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf – Banks Hill
Breeders' Cup Juvenile – Johannesburg
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies – Tempera
Breeders' Cup Mile – Val Royal
Breeders' Cup Sprint – Squirtle Squirt
Breeders' Cup Turf – Fantastic Light

Ice hockey

Art Ross Memorial Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins

Hart Memorial Trophy – for the NHL's Most Valuable Player:

Joe Sakic – Colorado Avalanche

Stanley Cup – Ray Bourque of the Colorado Avalanche won his only Stanley Cup when the Colorado Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils 4 games to 3.

World Hockey Championship

Men's champion: Czech Republic defeated Finland

Junior Men's champion: Czech Republic defeated Finland

Women's champion: Canada defeated the United States

Lacrosse

Major League Lacrosse begins play as a single-entity-ownership league.

Long Island Lizards win the first Steinfeld Cup over Baltimore Bayhawks, 15-11.

The Philadelphia Wings defeat the Toronto Rock 9-8, to win the Champion's Cup.

The 100th anniversaries of the donations of both the Mann Cup and the Minto Cup.

The Coquitlam Adanacs win the 100th Mann Cup.

The St. Catharines Athletics win the 100th Minto Cup.

The Wallaceburg Red Devils win the Founders Cup.

Mixed martial arts

The following is a list of major noteworthy MMA events during 2001 in chronological order.

Motor racing

Stock car racing –

Michael Waltrip won the Daytona 500, a race that also saw the death of seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Dale Earnhardt in an unspectacular crash during the final lap.

NASCAR Championship – Jeff Gordon

Indy Racing League – Sam Hornish Jr. won the season championship

Indianapolis 500 – Helio Castroneves

CART Racing – Gil de Ferran won the season championship, while Alex Zanardi is seriously injured

Formula One Championship – Michael Schumacher of Germany

24 Hours of Le Mans – Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro driving an Audi R8

World Rally Championship – Richard Burns of Great Britain

Drag racing – Kenny Bernstein won the NHRA "Top Fuel" championship.

Orienteering

Orienteering included as an event for the first time in the World Games held 18–19 August in Akita, Japan.

Radiosport

Fourth High Speed Telegraphy World Championship held in Constanța, Romania.

Rugby league

January 26 at Bolton, England – 2001 World Club Challenge match is won by St Helens 20-18 over the Brisbane Broncos at Reebok Stadium before 16,041.

July 1 at Brisbane, Queensland – 2001 State of Origin is won by Queensland in the third and deciding match of the series against New South Wales at ANZ Stadium before 49,441.

September 30 at Sydney, Australia – 2001 NRL season culminates in the Newcastle Knights' 30-24 win over the Parramatta Eels in the Grand Final at Stadium Australia before 90,414.

October 13 at Manchester, England – Super League VI culminates in the Bradford Bulls' 37-6 win against the Wigan Warriors in the Grand Final at Old Trafford before 60,164.

November 24 at Wigan, England – in the 2001 Kangaroo tour's last match, Australia defeat Great Britain 28-12 in the third and deciding test match in The Ashes series at JJB Stadium before 25,011.

Rugby union

107th Six Nations Championship series is won by England

Tri Nations – Australia

Heineken Cup – Leicester Tigers 34–30 Stade Français

Skydiving

The World FreeFall Convention was moved from Quincy, Illinois to Rantoul, Illinois.

Snooker

World Snooker Championship – Ronnie O'Sullivan beats John Higgins 18-14

World rankings – Mark Williams remains world number one for 2001/02

Swimming

Ninth World LC Championships, held in Fukuoka, Japan (July 22 – July 29)

United States wins the most medals (26), Australia the most gold medals (13)

Fifth European SC Championships, held in Antwerp, Belgium (December 13 – 16)

Germany wins the most medals (17), and the most gold medals (6)

January 28 – Mark Foster regains the world record in the men's 50m freestyle (short course) at a swimming meet in Paris, France, clocking 21.13

Taekwondo

World Championships held in Jeju, South Korea

Tennis

Grand Slam in tennis men's results:

Australian Open – Andre Agassi
French Open – Gustavo Kuerten
Wimbledon championships – Goran Ivanišević
US Open – Lleyton Hewitt

Grand Slam in tennis women's results:

Australian Open – Jennifer Capriati
French Open – Jennifer Capriati
Wimbledon championships – Venus Williams
US Open – Venus Williams

Davis Cup – France won 3-2 over Australia in world tennis.

Volleyball

Men's World League: Brazil

Men's European Championship: Yugoslavia

Women's World Grand Prix: USA

Women's European Championship: Russia

Water polo

Men's World Championship: Spain