Alpine Skiing World Cup
Men's overall season champion: Hermann Maier, Austria
Women's overall season champion: Janica Kostelić, Croatia
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.
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.
May – Roman Šebrle breaks a 9.000 points barrier in decathlon event.
August – 2001 World Championships in Athletics held at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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)
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion
Doug Swingley with lead dogs: Stormy & Pepi
Men's Champions Trophy: Germany
Women's Champions Trophy: Argentina
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
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 –
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
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
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:
- Kentucky Derby – Monarchos
- Preakness Stakes – Point Given
- Belmont Stakes – Point Given
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
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
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.
The following is a list of major noteworthy MMA events during 2001 in chronological order.
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 included as an event for the first time in the World Games held 18–19 August in Akita, Japan.
Fourth High Speed Telegraphy World Championship held in Constanța, Romania.
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.
107th Six Nations Championship series is won by England
Tri Nations – Australia
Heineken Cup – Leicester Tigers 34–30 Stade Français
The World FreeFall Convention was moved from Quincy, Illinois to Rantoul, Illinois.
World Snooker Championship – Ronnie O'Sullivan beats John Higgins 18-14
World rankings – Mark Williams remains world number one for 2001/02
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
World Championships held in Jeju, South Korea
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.
Men's World League: Brazil
Men's European Championship: Yugoslavia
Women's World Grand Prix: USA
Women's European Championship: Russia
Men's World Championship: Spain
Men's European Championship: Yugoslavia
Women's World Championship: Italy
Women's European Championship: Hungary
Third East Asian Games held in Osaka, Japan
Summer Goodwill Games held in Brisbane, Australia
Sixth World Games held in Akita, Japan
14th Mediterranean Games held in Tunis, Tunisia
21st Summer Universiade held in Beijing, China
20th Winter Universiade held in Zakopane, Poland
Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year – Barry Bonds, Major League Baseball
Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year – Jennifer Capriati, Tennis
