2001 in sports
See also: 2000 in sports, other events of 2001, 2002 in sports and the list of 'years in sports'.
Auto Racing
- Stock car racing:
- Michael Waltrip won the Daytona 500
- 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
- Formula One Championship - Michael Schumacher of Germany
- 24 hours of Le Mans: Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen Emanuele Pirro driving an Audi R8
- Rally racing:
- the team of Tommi Mäkinen / Risto Mannisenmaki won the Monte Carlo Rally driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
- Richard Burns of Great Britain won the World Rally Championship
- Drag racing - Kenny Bernstein won the NHRA "Top Fuel" championship.
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.
- 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.
- Books published:
- Bill James, The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract: Revised edition of his classic 1985 book, introducing his Win shares system of player evaluation.
Basketball
- October 30 - Michael Jordan returns to the National Basketball Association with the Washington Wizards after 3 1/2 years (the Wizards lose 93-91 to the New York Knicks).
- NCAA Men's Basketball Championship:
- Duke wins 82-72 over Arizona
- Duke wins 82-72 over Arizona
- NBA Finals:
- Los Angeles Lakers win 4 games to 1 Philadelphia 76ers
- Los Angeles Lakers win 4 games to 1 Philadelphia 76ers
- WNBA Finals:
- Los Angeles Sparks win 2 games to 0 over the Charlotte Sting, earning the franchise's first championship
- Los Angeles Sparks win 2 games to 0 over the Charlotte Sting, earning the franchise's first championship
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.
- September 29 - In a gala event dedicated to the victims and rescuers of 9/11, Bernard Hopkins defeats Felix Trinidad by a knockout in round 12 to unify the world's Middleweight championships.
Cycling
- Giro d'Italia won by Gilberto Simoni of Italy
- Tour de France - Lance Armstrong of the United States
- World Cycling Championship: Óscar Freire, of Spain
Figure Skating
- World Figure Skating Championships:
- Men's champion: Jewgeni Pluschenko, Russia
- Women's champion: Michelle Kwan, United States
- Pairs champions: Jamie Salé & David Pelletier, Canada
Football (Soccer)
- England - FA Cup: Liverpool won 2-1 over Arsenal
Football (American)
- Super Bowl XXXV: Baltimore Ravens won 34-7 over the New York Giants
Canadian Football
- Grey Cup: Calgary Stampeders win 27-19 over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Vanier Cup: UBC Thunderbirds won 39-23 over the Ottawa Gee Gees
Golf
- Grand Slam of golf results:
- May - The Masters - Tiger Woods
- June - US Open - Retief Goosen
- July - British Open - David Duval
- August - PGA Championship - David Toms
- PGA tour's leading money winner for the year: Tiger Woods - $5,687,777
- PGA Champions Tour leading money winner: Allen Doyle - $2,553,582
- Ryder Cup of world golf postponed until 2002
- Kraft Nabisco Championship - Annika Sörenstam
- US Women's Open - Karrie Webb
- LPGA Championship - Karrie Webb
- Women's British Open - Pak Se Ri
- Annika Sörenstam: leading money winner on the LPGA tour, earning $2,105,868
Thoroughbred Horse Racing
- Australia - Melbourne Cup - Ethereal
- Canada - Queen's Plate - Dancethruthedawn
- France - Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - Sakhee
- Ireland - Irish Derby Stakes - Galileo
- English Triple Crown Races:
- Two Thousand 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
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 -
- Kentucky Futurity - Chaising Tail
- Australian Inter Dominion Harness Racing Championship:
- Pacers: Yulestar
- Trotters: Take A Moment
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:
- Stanley Cup: Colorado Avalanche win 4 games to 3 over the New Jersey Devils
- World Hockey Championship
- Men's champion: Czech Republic defeated Finland
- Junior Men's champion: Canada defeated Sweden
- Women's champion: Canada defeated the United States
Skiing
Tennis
- Grand Slam in tennis men's results:
- Australian Open - Andre Agassi
- French Open - Gustavo Kuerten
- Wimbledon championships - Goran Ivanisevic
- US Open - Lleyton Hewitt
- Grand Slam in tennis women's results:
- Davis Cup: France won 3-2 over Australia in world tennis.
General sporting events
- Embassy World Snooker Championship:
- Ronnie O'Sullivan won 18-14 over John Higgins
- Ronnie O'Sullivan won 18-14 over John Higgins
- Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion:
- Doug Swingley with lead dogs: Stormy & Pepi
- Doug Swingley with lead dogs: Stormy & Pepi
Births
Deaths
- Cam Fella - harness racing horse
- February 18 - Dale Earnhardt - NASCAR race car driver
- February 18 - Eddie Mathews, Major League Baseball player
- April 10 - Willie Stargell - baseball player, United States Baseball Hall of Fame.
- May 12 Didi, Brazilian soccer star
- September 11 - Garnet Bailey, former Boston Bruins ice hockey player and a pro scout for the Los Angeles Kings died in the crash of United Airlines Flight 175 in the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack.
