Origin and trademark
In a comedic context, the same play on words, additionally incorporating the name "Pete", is known to have been used as early as 1930 on the radio program "Empire Builders!The episode of that program broadcast on December 29, 1930, featured a trio of singers dubbed "The Three Visiting Firemen: Pete, Re-Pete, and Three-Pete".
The Oxford English Dictionary credits an Illinois high school senior, Sharif Ford, with the earliest published use of the word in the March 8, 1989 edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Ford's quote uses the term in a sporting context and serves to provide a clear etymology as well:
The Lincoln High Tigers say they want to "three-peat". "You know, kind of like repeat, except doing it for the third time", senior Sharif Ford said.
However, Riles & Co., the corporate entity of National Basketball Association (NBA) coach Pat Riley, submitted in November 1988 a trademark application for the use of three-peat on shirts, jackets and hats. At the time, the phrase was being used by members and fans of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, of whom Riley was the head coach, regarding the Lakers' quest that season to obtain what would have been a third successive NBA championship. According to Riley, it was Laker player Byron Scott who coined the term in reference to the team's goal for that season.
In 1989, Riles & Co. successfully registered the trademark under U.S. Registration Number 1552980. The Lakers did not win a third consecutive NBA championship in 1989, but the Chicago Bulls did in 1993, and Riles & Co. collected royalties from sports apparel makers who licensed the phrase for use on merchandise commemorating that accomplishment.
Riles & Co. subsequently obtained additional registrations expanding the trademark to cover many other kinds of merchandise in addition to apparel. The company then went on to reap additional profits by again licensing the phrase to merchandisers when the Bulls again won three consecutive NBA championships from 1996 through 1998, as well as when the New York Yankees won three straight World Series championships from 1998 through 2000 and when the Lakers won three straight NBA championships from 2000 through 2002.
The trademark registration for three-peat has been challenged over the years by those who argue that the term has become too generic in its usage for the trademark to continue to be applicable. However, such arguments have yet to succeed, with the registration continuing to be upheld by the United States Patent and Trademark Office as recently as 2001, in the case of Christopher Wade v. Riles & Co.
In 2005, a group of individuals attempted to trademark the phrase Three-Pete in anticipation of the (ultimately unsuccessful) attempt that year by the University of Southern California (U.S.C.) football team to win a third consecutive national championship. The change in spelling was a reference to the team's head coach, Pete Carroll. However, the Patent Office ruled that the change in spelling was not dissimilar enough from Riles & Co.'s three-peat, and denied the registration. Later that year, U.S.C. fan Kyle Bunch began selling his own "Three-Pete" T-shirts. He discontinued sales once he was notified that he was infringing upon the Riles & Co. trademark.
As of late 2007, the trademark "Three Peat" is still active for shirts, jackets, caps, etc., and for commemorative mugs, plates, etc., and also for posters, bumper sticker, etc. The similar "3 Peat" is a trademark for blankets and other bedding. Some of the Riles & Co. trademarks are no longer in effect, e.g. keychains.
There have been numerous instances of teams winning three or more consecutive championships in the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball and Australian Football League most of which occurred prior to the advent of the term three-peat.
1946–49 Cleveland Browns (4) (also won 1950 NFL title)1985–87 Tampa Bay/Rapid City Thrillers1979–82 New York Arrows (4)1988–92 San Diego Sockers (5)1936–39 New York Yankees (4)1949–53 New York Yankees (5)1972–74 Oakland Athletics1998–2000 New York Yankees1952–54 Minneapolis Lakers1959–66 Boston Celtics (8)1991–93 Chicago Bulls1996–98 Chicago Bulls2000–02 Los Angeles Lakers1929–31 Green Bay Packers (no post-season, title game began in 1933)1965–67 Green Bay Packers (includes first two Super Bowls)1947–49 Toronto Maple Leafs1956–60 Montreal Canadiens (5)1962–64 Toronto Maple Leafs1976–79 Montreal Canadiens (4)1980–83 New York Islanders (4)NACDA Director's Cup (overall collegiate athletics)
1995–2013 Stanford (NCAA Division I)1997–2001 Simon Fraser (NAIA)1999–2011 Williams (NCAA Division III)2000–03 UC Davis (NCAA Division II)2004–11 Grand Valley State (NCAA Division II)2005–11 Azusa Pacific (NAIA)NAIA National Football Championship
2002–2005 Carroll College Fighting SaintsNCAA Division I Baseball
1970–1974 USCNCAA Division I Football
Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
1934–1936 Minnesota1944–1946 Army West PointFootball Championship Subdivision (FCS)
2005–2007 Appalachian State University2011–2015 North Dakota State University (five-peat)NCAA Division I Men's Basketball
1967–1973 UCLANCAA Division I Men's Water Polo
2008–2013 USCNCAA Division I Women's Basketball
1996–1998 Tennessee2002–2004 Connecticut2013–2016 Connecticut (4)NCAA Division II Women's Basketball
1993–1996 North Dakota State Bison (four-peat)1997–1999 North Dakota Fighting HawksNCAA Division III Women's Basketball
1998–2001 Washington (four-peat)NCAA Division II Football Championship
1993–1995 North AlabamaNCAA Division III Football
1983–1986 Augustana College (Illinois)1996–1998 Mount Union2000–2002 Mount Union2009–2011 Wisconsin–Whitewater WarhawksU.S. National Collegiate Club Rugby championships
1980–1983 California1991–2002 California2004–2008 California2012–2014 BYUFirst Division (association football)
1949–51 Racing Club1955–57 River PlateMetro 1979-Metro 1980 River PlateApertura 1996-Apertura 1997 River PlateVictorian Football League/Australian Football League
1906–08 Carlton1927–30 Collingwood – (four-peat)1939–41 Melbourne1955–57 Melbourne2001–03 Brisbane Lions2013–15 HawthornAustralian Ice Hockey League
2010–12 Melbourne IceNew South Wales Rugby Football League/Australian Rugby League/National Rugby League
1911–13 Eastern Suburbs1915–17 Balmain1925–29 South Sydney1935–37 Eastern Suburbs1953–55 South Sydney1956–66 St. George1981–83 Parramatta EelsWest Australian Football League
1908–11 East Fremantle1919–23 East Perth1928–31 East Fremantle1938–40 Claremont1952–54 South Fremantle1961–63 Swan Districts1966–68 Perth1982–84 Swan Districts2000–02 East Perth2006–08 SubiacoBelgian Pro League
1900–03 Racing de Bruxelles1904–07 R Union Saint-Gilloise1924–26 K Beerschot VAC1933–35 R Union Saint-Gilloise SR1949–51 RSC Anderlechtois1954–56 RSC Anderlechtois1964–68 RSC Anderlechtois1969–71 R Standard Liège1976–78 Club Brugge KV1985–87 RSC Anderlechtois1993–95 R.S.C. Anderlecht2012–14 R.S.C. AnderlechtBrazilian Championship
2006–08 São Paulo FCCanadian Football League (Grey Cup):
1909–11 Toronto Varsity Blues1922–24 Queen's University1945–47 Toronto Argonauts1954–56 Edmonton Eskimos1978–82 Edmonton EskimosCollegiate women's basketball
2011–2015 Windsor Lancers (five-peat)First Division (Association football):
1933–35 Magallanes1989–91 Colo-ColoApertura 2006-Clausura 2007 Colo-Colo (four-peat)Apertura 2011-Apertura 2012 Universidad de ChileCosta Rica, American Football 1st Division:
2010–12 Santa Ana BulldogsDanish Superliga
2009–11 F.C. CopenhagenFinland
Veikkausliiga
1998–2000 FC Haka2009–11 HJKLigue 1
1902–04 Roubaix1967–70 Saint-Étienne1974–76 Saint-Étienne1989–93 Marseille (five-peat)2002–08 Lyon (seven-peat)2013–16 PSG (four-peat)Basketball Bundesliga
1970–1972 TuS 04 Leverkusen1990–1996 TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen1997–2003 ALBA Berlin (seven-peat)2010–2013 Brose Baskets (four-peat, also won the German Cup in 2010, 2011 and 2012)Fußball-Bundesliga
1972–74 Bayern Munich1975–77 Borussia Mönchengladbach1985–87 Bayern Munich1999–2001 Bayern Munich2013–16 Bayern Munich (four-peat)DDR-Oberliga
1976–78 SG Dynamo Dresden1979–88 Berliner FC DynamoItalian Football Championship
1898–1900 Genoa1902–04 Genoa1911–13 Pro VercelliSerie A
1931–35 Juventus1943, 1946–49 Torino1992–94 Milan2006–10 Internazionale2012–16 JuventusNetherlands
Eredivisie
1897–99 RAP Amsterdam1900–03 HVV (four-peat)1911–13 Sparta1966–68 Ajax1986–89 PSV (four-peat)1994–96 Ajax2005–08 PSV (four-peat)2011–14 Ajax (four-peat)Tippeligaen
1972–75 Viking (four-peat)1992–2004 Rosenborg (thirteen-peat)Philippine Basketball Association
1976–1977 Crispa Redmanizers (six straight championships: 1975 All-Philippine Championship, 1976 Grand Slam, 1977 All-Filipino Conference and 1977 Open Conference)1983–1984 Crispa Redmanizers (four straight championships: 1983 Grand Slam, 1984 First All-Filipino Conference)1984–1985 Great Taste Coffee Makers (four straight championships: 1984 Second All-Filipino Conference, 1984 Invitational Championship, 1985 Open Conference, 1985 All-Filipino Conference)1988–1989 San Miguel Beermen (four straight championships: 1998 PBA Reinforced Conference, 1989 Grand Slam)1995–1996 Alaska Milkmen (four straight championship: 1995 Governors' Cup and 1996 Grand Slam)1997–1998 Alaska Milkmen (three straight championships: 1997 Governors' Cup, 1998 All-Filipino Cup and 1998 PBA Commissioner's Cup)2000–2001 San Miguel Beermen (three straight championships: 2000 Commissioner's Cup, 2000 Governors' Cup, 2001 All-Filipino Cup)2013–2014 San Mig Super Coffee Mixers (four straight championships: 2013 Governors' Cup, 2013–14 Grand Slam)Primeira Liga
1936–38 Benfica1947–49 Sporting CP1951–54 Sporting CP (four-peat)1963–65 Benfica1967–69 Benfica1971–73 Benfica1975–77 Benfica1995–99 Porto (five-peat)2006–09 Porto (four-peat)2011–13 PortoLa Liga
1961–65 Real Madrid (five-peat)1967–69 Real Madrid1978–80 Real Madrid1986–90 Real Madrid (five-peat)1991–94 Barcelona (four-peat)2009–11 BarcelonaK League
1993–95 Ilhwa Chunma (changed to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma)2001–03 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (changed to Seongnam FC)Allsvenskan
1945–48 IFK Norrköping1949–51 Malmö FF1985–89 Malmö FF1993–96 IFK GöteborgTurkey, American Football 1st Division:
2013–15 Bogazici SultansTurkish Football League 1st Division 1971–73 Galatasaray 1979–81 Trabzonspor 1990–92 Beşiktaş 1997–00 Galatasaray ( four-peat)
English rugby league Super League Grand Final
2007–2009 Leeds RhinosEnglish rugby union
1991–94 Bath1999–01 Leicester Tigers2003–05 London WaspsEnglish football first tier
1924–26 Huddersfield Town1933–35 Arsenal1982–84 Liverpool1999–2001 Manchester United2007–09 Manchester UnitedSoviet Top League
1966–68 Dynamo KyivYugoslav First League
1933, 1935–36 BSK Beograd1961–63 Partizan1968–70 Crvena Zvezda1990–92 Crvena ZvezdaUEFA Champions League
1956–60 Real Madrid (five-peat)1971–73 Ajax1974–76 Bayern MunichUEFA Europa League
2014–2016 SevillaSouth American football Copa Libertadores
1968–70 Estudiantes de La Plata1972–75 Independiente (four-peat)CONMEBOL's Copa América
1945–47 ArgentinaChamp Car World Series auto racing
2004–07 Sébastien BourdaisCONCACAF U.S. Open Cup
1965–67 Greek American Atlas2009–11 Seattle Sounders FCIndian cricket's Ranji Trophy
1958–1972 Bombay1974–1976 BombayCricket World Cup
1999–2007 Australia (World Cup every 4 years)Formula One Champion
1954–57 Juan Manuel Fangio (four-peat)2000–04 Michael Schumacher (five-peat)2010–14 Sebastian Vettel (four-peat)Winter X Games SuperPipe
2008–2013 Shaun White1903–06 British Isles1907–11 Australasia 1920–26 United States1927–32 France1933–36 Great Britain1946–49 United States1950–53 Australia1955–57 Australia1959–62 Australia1964–67 Australia1968–72 United States1976–82 United States1983–85 Czechoslovakia1993–95 Men's singles
1931–33 Jack Crawford1963–67 Roy Emerson2011–13 Novak DjokovicWomen's singles
1928–30 Daphne Akhurst Cozens1946–48 Nancye Wynne Bolton1960–66 Margaret Court1969–71 Margaret Court1974–76 Evonne Goolagong Cawley1988–90 Steffi Graf1991–93 Monica Seles1997–99 Martina HingisMen's doubles
1936–40 Adrian Quist (five-peat: his partners were Don Turnbull in 1936–37 tournaments, and John Bromwich until 1940)1938–40 John Bromwich (his partner was Adrian Quist, see above)1946–50 John Bromwich and Adrian Quist (five-peat)1959–61 Rod Laver and Bob Mark2009–11 Mike Bryan and Bob BryanWomen's doubles
1923–25 Sylvia Lance Harper (her partners were Esna Boyd Robertson in the 1923 tournament, and Daphne Akhurst Cozens in 1924–25)1936–40 Thelma Coyne Long and Nancye Wynne Bolton1947–49 Thelma Coyne Long and Nancye Wynne Bolton1954–56 Mary Bevis Hawton (her partners were Beryl Penrose in 1954–55, and Thelma Coyne Long in the 1956 tournament)1961–63 Margaret Court (her partners were Mary Carter Reitano in the 1961 tournament, and Robyn Ebbern in 1962–63)1969–71 Margaret Court (her partners were Judy Tegart Dalton in 1969–70, and Evonne Goolagong Cawley in the 1971 tournament)1974–76 Evonne Goolagong Cawley (her partners were Peggy Michel in 1974–75, and Helen Gourlay in the 1976 tournament)1976–12/1977 Helen Gourlay (her partners were Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1976 and December 1977 (see above), and Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat in January 1977)1982–89 Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver (seven-peat)1997–99 Martina Hingis (her partners were Natasha Zvereva in the 1997 tournament, Mirjana Lučić in 1998, and Anna Kournikova in 1999)Men's singles
1894-96 André Vacherot1897–1900 Paul Aymé1907–09 Max Decugis1912–14 Max Decugis1978–81 Björn Borg2005–08 Rafael Nadal (four-peat)2010–14 Rafael Nadal (five-peat)Women's singles
1897-99 Adine Masson1904–06 Kate Gillou1909–12 Jeanne Matthey1920–23 Suzanne Lenglen1928–30 Helen Wills1935–37 Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling1990–92 Monica Seles2005–07 Justine HeninMen's doubles
1961–65 Roy Emerson (six-peat: his partners were Neal Fraser in 1960 and 1962, Rod Laver in the 1961 tournament, Manuel Santana in 1963, Ken Fletcher in 1964, and Fred Stolle in 1965)Women's doubles
1909–12 Jeanne Matthey and Daisy Speranza1920–23 Suzanne Lenglen (four-peat: her partners were Elisabeth d'Aryen in the 1920 tournament, Geramine Pigueron in 1921–22, and Didi Vasto in 1923)1932–34 Elizabeth Ryan (her partners were Helen Wills in the 1932 tournament, and Simonne Mathieu in 1933–34)1936–39 Simonne Mathieu (four-peat: her partners were Billie Yorke in 1936–38, and Jadwiga Jędrzejowska in the 1939 tournament)1936–38 Billie Yorke (her partner was Simonne Mathieu, see above)1950–53 Doris Hart and Shirley Fry Irvin1961–63 Renée Schuurman (her partners were Sandra Reynolds in 1961–62, and Ann Jones in the 1963 tournament)1964–66 Margaret Court (her partners were Lesley Turner Bowrey in 1964–65, and Judy Tegart in the 1966 tournament)1967–71 Françoise Dürr (five-peat: her partners were Gail Chanfreau in 1967 and 1970–71, and Ann Jones in 1967–68)1984–88 Martina Navratilova (five-peat: her partners were Pam Shriver in 1984–85 and 1987–88, and Andrea Temesvári in the 1986 tournament)1991–95 Gigi Fernández (five-peat: her partners were Jana Novotná in the 1991 tournament, and Natasha Zvereva in 1992–95)1992–95 Natasha Zvereva (four-peat: her partner was Gigi Fernández, see above)Gentlemen's Singles
1881-86 William Renshaw1897–1900 Reginald Doherty1902–06 Laurence Doherty1910–13 Anthony Wilding1934–36 Fred Perry1976–80 Björn Borg1993–95 Pete Sampras1997–2000 Pete Sampras2003–07 Roger FedererLadies' Singles
1891-93 Lottie Dod1919–23 Suzanne Lenglen1927–30 Helen Wills1948–50 Louise Brough1952–54 Maureen Connolly1966–68 Billie Jean King1982–87 Martina Navratilova1991–93 Steffi GrafGentlemen's Doubles
1884-86 William Renshaw and Ernest Renshaw1894-96 Wilfred Baddeley and Herbert Baddeley1897–1901 Laurence Doherty and Reginald Doherty1903–05 Laurence Doherty and Reginald Doherty1921–22 Randolph Lycett (his partners were Max Woosnam in the 1921 tournament, James Anderson in 1922, and Leslie Godfree)1929–31 John Van Ryn (his partners were Wilmer Allison in 1929–30, and George Lott in the 1931 tournament)1968–70 John Newcombe and Tony Roche1993–97 Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde2002–04 Todd Woodbridge and Jonas BjörkmanLadies' Doubles
1919–23 Suzanne Lenglen and Elizabeth Ryan (five-peat)1925–27 Elizabeth Ryan (her partners were Suzanne Lenglen in the 1925 tournament, Mary Browne in 1926, and Helen Wills in 1927)1948–50 Louise Brough and Margaret Osborne duPont1951–53 Shirley Fry Irvin and Doris Hart1956–58 Althea Gibson (her partners were Angela Buxton in the 1956 tournament, Darlene Hard in 1957, and Maria Bueno in 1958)1970–73 Billie Jean King (four-peat: her partners were Rosemary Casals in 1970–71 and 1973, and Betty Stöve in the 1972 tournament)1981–84 Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver (four-peat)1991–94 Natasha Zvereva (four-peat: her partners were Larisa Neiland in the 1991 tournament, and Gigi Fernández in 1992–94)1992–94 Gigi Fernández (her partner was Natasha Zvereva, see above)Men's singles
1881-87 Richard Sears1890-92 Oliver Campbell1898–1900 Malcolm Whitman1907–11 William Larned1920–25 Bill Tilden1979–81 John McEnroe1985–87 Ivan Lendl2004–08 Roger FedererWomen's singles
1909–11 Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman1912–14 Mary Browne1915–18 Molla Mallory1920–22 Molla Mallory1923–25 Helen Wills1927–29 Helen Wills1932–35 Helen Jacobs1938–40 Alice Marble1943–44 Pauline Betz1948–50 Margaret Osborne duPont1951–53 Maureen Connolly1975–78 Chris Evert2012–14 Serena WilliamsMen's doubles
1882-87 Richard Sears (six-peat: his partners were James Dwight in 1882-84 and 1886–87, and Joseph Clark in the 1885 tournament)1882-84 James Dwight (his partner was Richard Sears, see above)1899-01 Holcombe Ward and Dwight F. Davis1904–06 Holcombe Ward and Beals Wright1907–10 Fred Alexander and Harold Hackett (four-peat)1912–14 Maurice McLoughlin and Tom Bundy1921–23 Bill Tilden (his partners were Vincent Richards in 1921–22, and Brian Norton in the 1923 tournament)1928–30 George Lott (his partners were John F. Hennessey in the 1928 tournament, and John Doeg in 1929–30)Women's doubles
1894-98 Juliette Atkinson (five-peat: her partners were Helen Hellwig in 1894-95, Elisabeth Moore in the 1896 tournament, and Kathleen Atkinson in 1897-98)1909–11 Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman (her partners were Edith Rotch in 1909–10, and Eleonora Sears in the 1911 tournament)1912–14 Mary K. Browne (her partners were Dorothy Green in the 1912 tournament, and Louise Riddell Williams in 1913–14)1915–17 Eleonora Sears (her partners were Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman in the 1915 tournament, and Molla Mallory in 1916–17)1918–20 Marion Jessup and Eleanor Goss1937–41 Sarah Palfrey Cooke (five-peat: her partners were Alice Marble in 1937–40, and Margaret Osborne duPont in the 1941 tournament)1937–40 Alice Marble (four-peat: her partner was Sarah Palfrey Cooke, see above)1941–50 Margaret Osborne duPont (ten-peat: her partners were Sarah Palfrey Cooke in the 1941 tournament (see above), and Louise Brough in 1942–50)1942–50 Louise Brough (nine-peat: her partner was Margaret Osborne duPont, see above)1951–54 Shirley Fry Irvin and Doris Hart1955–57 Louise Brough and Margaret Osborne duPont1958–62 Darlene Hard (five-peat: her partners were Jeanne Arth in 1958–59, Maria Bueno in 1960 and 1962, and Lesley Turner Bowrey in the 1961 tournament)2002–04 Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola SuárezSingles
1971–73 Ilie Năstase1985–87 Ivan Lendl2012–15 Novak DjokovicDoubles
1978–84 Peter Fleming and John McEnroe (seven-peat)Singles
1983–86 Martina Navratilova (five-peat)1990–92 Monica Seles2012–14 Serena WilliamsMen's singles
2004–06 Roger Federer2014–16 Novak Djokovic (running)Men's doubles
1986–88 Guy Forget (his partners were Peter Fleming in the 1986 tournament, Yannick Noah in 1987, and Boris Becker in 1988)1988–90 Boris Becker (his partners were Guy Forget in 1988 and 1990, and Jakob Hlasek in the 1989 tournament)Men's singles
2001–03 Andre AgassiWomen's singles
1994–96 Steffi Graf2002–04 Serena Williams2013–15 Serena WilliamsMen's doubles
1996–98 Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde2010–12 Leander Paes (his partners were Lukáš Dlouhý in the 2010 tournament, Mahesh Bhupathi in 2011, and Radek Štěpánek in 2012)Women's doubles
1995–97 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (her partners were Jana Novotná in 1995 and 1996, and Natasha Zvereva in the 1997 tournament)1903–05 Willie Anderson1868-72 Young Tom Morris (four-peat)1877-79 Jamie Anderson1880-82 Bob Ferguson1954–56 Peter Thomson1924–27 Walter HagenIn the National Football League (NFL), a Super Bowl championship three-peat has not been accomplished. Two-time defending Super Bowl champions who failed to three-peat include the Green Bay Packers (1968), Miami Dolphins (1974), Pittsburgh Steelers (twice: 1976, 1980), San Francisco 49ers (1990), Dallas Cowboys (1994), Denver Broncos (1999), and New England Patriots (2005). All of these teams failed to return to the title game in the third season (indicated in parentheses).
The Buffalo Bills went to 4 consecutive Super Bowls from 1990–1993 which is a feat unmatched in NFL history, however they lost in every appearance.
In the early years of the NFL, decades before the introduction of either the term three-peat or the Super Bowl, the Packers won three consecutive NFL titles from 1929–31. This was achieved without playing any postseason playoff games, as the league title was determined at that time from the season standings. In addition, the Packers won the NFL championship in 1965, at a time when the rival NFL and AFL played separate exclusive championships. They then followed that 1965 championship with their first two Super Bowl victories in 1966 and 1967 (their Super Bowl berths were earned by winning both the 1966 NFL Championship Game and 1967 NFL Championship Game), thereby winning championships three years in a row.
There have been efforts to come up with a similarly clever name for the potential fourth consecutive championship in the year following a three-peat. But attempts such as quat-row have thus far failed to catch on, and most fans simply use the term four-peat. Since the term three-peat came into usage, however, only one team in major American sports has been able to achieve it – Hendrick Racing/Jimmie Johnson NASCAR team, who won 5 championships in a row.
The wordplay of three-peat is clearer if repeat is stressed on the first syllable; this pronunciation is uncommon outside North America. Other English-speaking people may instead talk of a hat trick of championships, or simply a three-in-a-row.
There are also terms for winning three different trophies in the same season:
Triple Crown – various sportsTreble (association football)Grand slam – Philippine Basketball Association