9th

  • English-American fencer Arthur Fox was born on this day in 1878 in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. He competed in the 1904 Olympics and won a silver medal in the team foil competition. He also competed in the individual foil but was eliminated in the first round and finished fifth in the individual sabre.
  • The referee in charge of the 1966 Football World Cup final, Swiss, Gottfried Dienst was born in 1919. At the time he was considered the best referee in the world, and is one of only four men to have twice refereed a European Cup final, which he did in 1961 and 1965, and one of only two (the other being the Italian Sergio Gonella) to have refereed both the European Championship final and the World Cup Final.
  • Rik Van Steenbergen Belgian racing cyclist was born on this day in 1924. Considered to be one of the best among the great number of successful Belgian cyclists, he began racing at 16 and became one of Belgium’s best juniors from 1940 to 1942. He started cycling as a professional during World War II in 1942, after being an amateur since he was 14. The next year, he won his first important races, and became Belgian road cycling champion. In 1944, he won the Tour of Flanders Classic, which he won again two years later.
  • On this day in 1928, Silvio Cator of Haiti set a then long jump record of 26 feet and ½ an inch.
  • Today in 1940 at the US National Tennis Championship held in Forest Hills, New York, forerunner of the US Open – Donald McNeill beat fellow American Bobby Riggs 4-6, 6-8, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 to win his second major singles title and Defending champion Alice Marble defeated Helen Jacobs 6-2, 6-3 for her third US singles title
  • The 70th running of the US Women’s National Tennis Championship in 1956 was won by Shirley Fry when she beat Althea Gibson, 6-3, 6-4.
  • Today at the 1972 Olympics in Munich: Soviet runner Lyudmila Bragina sets a world record of 4:01.38 in winning the  1500m title, the Soviet Union beat the USA 51-50 in the most controversial game in international basketball history; with US leading 50-49 the final 3 seconds is replayed 3 times until the Soviets finally win.  West German equestrian rider Liselott Linsenhoff followed her dressage teams gold in Mexico City with the individual dressage title.
  • On this day in 1973 a 4th place finish in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza was enough to clinch Jackie Stewart his 3rd Formula 1 World Drivers Championship
  • At the 1978 US Open, held at Flushing Meadows,  Chris Evert took her 4th straight US singles title; beating fellow American Pam Shriver 7-5, 6-4. It was the first time the event was played on hard courts
  • Today in 1979 South African Ferrari driver Jody Scheckter won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza to clinch his first Formula 1 World Drivers Championship, becoming the first RSA champion
  • Back to the US Open and in 1990 a 19 year old Pete Sampras won his first Grand Slam title, defeating fellow American Andre Agassi 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. Sampras was the youngest male US Open winner
  • On this day in 2000 Venus Williams took her  first US title, winning in straight sets against Lindsay Davenport
  • Today in 2012 Armenia won the 40th FIDE Chess Olympiad

10th

  • Today in 1846 Elias Howe was granted the first US patent for a sewing machine, others predated it using a different type of mechanical helper and were issued as early as 1755 in England. Building on these previous ideas as well as innovations of his own, Howe’s invention was a breakthrough but remained commercially unproductive. He took his machine to Europe but success continued to elude him. On his return to the States, he found several other manufacturers had used his idea, in part or in total, to create a product selling, if not like hotcakes, at least making money. Isaac Singer’s machine was scaled for home use and based on Howe’s design. Howe began the arduous task of defending his patent and his first suit forced payment to Howe of $25 for each machine sold. Eventually the two men, Singer and Howe collaborated with others working on sewing machines. The “Combination” included both men and Wheeler & Wilson and Grover & Baker. The companies had to pay Howe $5 per machine sold in the US and $1 for each one exported. Howe earned $2 million prior to his patent running out in 1867.
  • At the 15th edition of the British Golf Open in 1875, Willie Park Senior took the title after shooting a 166 at the Prestwick Golf club.
  • Today in 1927 France beat the USA (3-2) at the 22nd Davis Cup, held in Philadelphia.
  • Golfer Arnold Palmer was born in 1929. Palmer was not only a great golfer, and the first to win $1 million, bit an inspiration to millions of ordinary people worldwide. His famous Arnold Palmer Driving Ranges helped popularise the game, as did the books that appeared under his name. Palmer was also responsible for getting his fellow American professionals to compete in the British Open in the early 1960s at a time when US interest in the championship was declining. He was rewarded with the title in 1961 and 1962. He won the US Masters four times and the Open once, in 1960.
  • Australia’s Lionel Van Praag won the first world speedway championship, held at Wembley in 1936.
  • In 1948 Don Bradman scored 153 in his last first-class cricket inning in England.
  • Today in 1960 Abebe Bikila won the marathon at the Rome Olympics in a record time of 2:15:16.2 seconds and became the first sub-Saharan African to win an Olympic gold medal. Bikila did not originally make the Ethiopian team. Wami Biratu, who did, broke his ankle in a football match and was pulled at the last minutes. Bikila was his replacement. Adidas was the shoe sponsor for the 1960 Summer Olympics but had few shoes left when Bikila went to collect a pair and could find none that fitted him comfortably.With just a couple hours before the race Bikila opted to run barefoot. In the following Olympics held in Tokyo, Bikila once again won the marathon even though he was, once again, not expecting to run. In the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Bakila was expected to run and did, only to suffer an injury less than half way through the race, which incapacitated him and force him to drop out. During a spate of civil unrest in Addis, Bakila had to swerve while driving in order to miss a group of protesting students. His car landed in a ditch. Although the athlete survived, he was left a quadriplegic. He did get to attend the 1972 Olympics, but only as a spectator. He died in 1973 after suffering a cerebral haemorrhage. He was 41 years old.
  • Today in 1961 saw one of the world accidents in F1, during the Italian Grand Priz. German Wolfgang von Trips, lying second in the Grand Prix series, was driving a Ferrari when he crashed with Britain’s Jim Clark, driving a lighter and faster Lotus. Von Trips’ Ferrari went air born, tossing the driver out as it rolled. The car then crashed into a chain link fence holding back the enthralled crowd. Eleven spectators were killed instantly with three more dying the next day and a final man succumbing to his injuries on September 15. The rest of the cars managed to retain control and drive through the wreckage without becoming part of it. Clark walked away from the crash and immediately went to the now lifeless body of his fellow driver as he lay on the ground. In a daze, Clark had walked to the Ferrari seemingly looking for answers to the horrifying spectacle. Jim Clark himself would eventually also die in a crash during a Formula 2 race in 1968.
  • On this day in 1962 Rod Laver beat fellow Australian Roy Emmerson in four sets to win the US Championships and complete the Grand Slam. He repeated the feat seven years later.
  • On this day in 1966 Muhammad Ali scored a technical knock-out over Karl Mildenberger in the 12th round to win the heavyweight boxing title.
  • The 20th Olympic Games, held in Munich, were closed on this day in 1972.
  • Norwegian cross country skier Bente Skari, née Martinsen was born in 1972.  She is one of the most successful cross country skiers ever. She won her first Olympic medals in 1998, and won her first gold medal at the 2002 Olympics, coming from behind to beat the favourites Olga Danilova and Julija Tchepalova in the last kilometers of the 10km classical event. She also won a bronze medal in 3km classical as well as a silver medal in the relay. Additionally, she won five gold medals (5km: 1999, 10km: 2001, 2003, and 15km: 2001, 2003) from the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, as well as two silver (4 x 5km: 1997, 2001) medals. She won the overall cross-country skiing World Cup four times before retiring after the 2002/2003 season.
  • Emmerson Fittipaldi of Brazil won the 1972 Italian Grand Prix at Monza in a Lotus to clinch the world drivers’ title. Aged only 25 years and 273 days, he was the then youngest-ever world motor-racing champion.
  • Today in 1977 Christa Vahlensieck set a new female world marathon record of 2:34:47.5.
  • Misty Copeland, American ballerina was born today in 1982.On June 30, 2015, she became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history.
  • In 1990 it was the first time since 1966 that all eight Grand Slam tennis champions were different. The Australian Open was won by Ivan Lendl and Steffi Graf, the French Open by Andrés Gómez and Monica Seles, Wimbledon by Stefan Edberg and Martina Navratilova and finally the US Open by Pete Sampras and Gabriela Sabatini.
  • Brooke Henderson, Canadian professional golfer was born in 1997.She was named the Canadian Press female athlete of the year for 2015 and won her first major at age 18 in 2016 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, becoming the event’s youngest winner and moving her to second in the world rankings
  • Andy Murray won his first Grand Slam event on this day in 2012, went he defeated defending champion Novak Đoković at the US Open
  • On this day in 2018 Australian newspaper the “Herald Sun” was criticised for running a “racist” cartoon of American tennis star Serena Williams

11th

  • At the British Open held at Prestwick Golf Club on this day in 1862, Tom Morris Sr retained his title beating  Willie Park Sr. by 3 strokes
  • On this day in 1886 Mayflower (US) beats Galatea (England) in 7th America’s Cup
  • At the 1890 British Open staged at Prestwick Golf Club, John Ball becomes the first Englishman and first amateur to win the Open, beating Willie Fernie and Archie Simpson by 3 strokes
  • The original FA Cup Trophy was stolen from the window of William Shillcock’s shop at 73 Newtown Row, Birmingham on this day in 1895
  • Today in 1912 saw The Netherlands form its own Olympic Committee
  • The 21st Davis Cup came to a conclusion on this day in 1926,  USA beating France in Philadelphia (4-1), for their 7th straight championship
  • On this day in 1955 Juan Manuel Fango in a Mercedes won the season ending Italian Grand Prix at Monza to take his third Formula 1 World Drivers Championship by 17 points from Englishman Stirling Moss
  • The 17th Olympic Games closed in Rome, today in 1960
  • US Open Women’s 1971 Title final today was an all-American affair between Billie Jean King and her doubles partner Rosemary Casals, Billy Jean victorious in straight sets,  6-4, 7-6
  • On this day in 1985 Sri Lanka score their 1st Test Cricket victory, by 149 runs v India
  • The 2005 Solheim Cup. held at Crooked Stick Golf Club in America saw the USA regaining the Cup 15½–12½;  with Meg Mallon clinching the winning points with a 3 & 1 victory over Karen Stupples
  • Today in 2014 South African athlete Oscar Pistorius was found not guilty of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp  [later found guilty of culpable homicide]
  • On this day in 2018 James Anderson took his 564th Test wicket to become the most prolific fast bowler in cricket history as England beat India by 118 runs in the 5th Test at The Oval for a 4-1 series victory. This match was Alistair Cook’s final Test

12th

  • Martin Klein, Estonian wrestler was born on this day in 1884. He competed for the Russian Empire at the 1912 Olympics. He won the silver medal in the middleweight class, becoming the first Olympic medalist from Estonia. In the semifinal against the reigning world champion Alfred Asikainen, the two grappled for 11 hours and 40 minutes on a sunny day outdoors, until Klein managed to pin Asikainen. Klein was so exhausted from the bout – the longest wrestling match ever recorded – that he was unable to wrestle for the gold the next day, leaving Swedish wrestler Claes Johanssonwith the gold medal
  • American racing driver Lou Moore was born today in 1904. He was most known during his racing career for qualifying on the pole position of the 1932 Indianapolis 500. He was later remembered as a five-time Indianapolis 500 winning owner, a record which stood until 1987
  • American superstar athlete Jesse Owens was born today in 1913
  • The 1920 VII Summer Olympic Games closed today in Antwerp, Belgium
  • Today in 1925 at the 20th Davis Cup, the USA beat France in Philadelphia (5-0)
  • The 50th US National Tennis Championship, the number 3 seed Alice Marble beat top seeded fellow American Helen Jacobs 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, on this day in 1936
  • Today in 1972 Lord Michael Killanin succeeded Avery Brundage as head of Olympics
  • On this day in 1992 Stefan Edberg beat Michael Chang 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 in the longest match in US Open history, lasting 5 hours, 26 minutes
  • In 2009 South Africa claimed the 3rd Tri Nations Rugby Series with 32-29 win over defending champions New Zealand in Hamilton; TheSteyn brothers dominate with the boot, Morné kicking 2 penalties, 2 conversions & dropped goal and François scoring 3 penalties
  • On this day in 2015saw an all-Italian final with Flavia Pennetta winning her only Grand Slam title beating Roberta Vinci 7-6, 6-2, becoming the first Italian to win US title.

13th

  • The world’s first baseball club, the Knickerbocker Club of New York, was formed on this day in 1845
  • On this day in 1866 the British Open was won by Willie Park Sr,  his 3rd title beating his brother Davie Park by 2 strokes. On the same day in 1872, the title was won by Tom Morris Jr, his 4th title, taking victory by 3 strokes from fellow Scot Davie Strath
  • Born today in 1883, American pole-vaulter LeRoy Perry Samse. He represented the United States in the 1904 Olympics held in St Louis, where he won the pole vault silver medal.
  • Today in 1924 qt the 19th edition of the Davis Cup, USA beat Australia 5-0
  • On this day in 1930 the PGA Championship, held at Fresh Meadow, saw American based Scotsman Tommy Armour defeating Gene Sarazen 1-up in the final for the second of his 3 major titles
  • Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, born today in 1931, is both a former Governor of South Australia and Australian athlete. She finished her sporting career with two Olympic and seven Commonwealth Games Gold Medals, six individual world records and every Australian State and National title she contested from 1950–1954.
  • Professor Henri Kuprashvili is a Georgian Doctor of Political Sciences, who is most notable for breaking a Guinness record for swimming the Dardanelles, with his hands and feet bound in a traditional Georgian style of swimming, also known as Colchian, was born on this day in 1946
  • In 1953 today saw Italian Ferrari driver Alberto Ascari retain his Formula 1 World Drivers Championship. Although he was forced to retire through engine trouble in the season ending Italian Grand Prix at Monza. He took the title by 6.5 points from Juan Manuel Fangio
  • Luke Matthew Fitzgerald born today in 1987, Irish rugby union player, who played for Leinster. He won his first cap for Ireland in November 2006 and earned the nickname “Pivot” from Leinster and Irish rugby fans due to his exciting runs and sidesteps from broken play. On 28 June 2016, Fitzgerald announced his retirement from professional rugby. He had suffered a neck injury in the 2016 Pro12 Final and had been advised to retire on medical grounds
  • Russian gymnast Ksenia Afanasyeva was born today in 1991, she competed at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. She is the 2011 world champion on floor, the 2013 and 2015 European floor champion, and the 2013 Universiade vault and floor champion. Widely regarded as one of the most original and artistic gymnasts of all time, she retired from elite gymnastics in July 2016 due to kidney disease, a month away from the 2016 Olympics, for which she was the Russian team’s first alternate.
  • On this day in 2013 Jim Furyk fired a 12-under-par 59 in the 2nd round of the BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf club in Lake Forest, Illinois, to become just the 6th player to shoot sub-60 in a PGA Tour event
  • Today in 2015, the Evian Championship title went to Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who claimed the championship by 6 strokes from Lexi Thompson to become youngest major winner at 18yrs, 142 days
  • On the day in 2017 the International Olympic Committee announced Paris (2024) and Los Angeles (2028) as hosts of the  Olympic Games
  • Today in 2018 Amazon live streams “Thursday Night Football” which saw Cincinnati beat Baltimore 34-23, it saw the first all-female broadcast booth in NFL history with Andrea Kremer calling the game with Hannah Storm

14th

  • On this day in 1868 Golf’s 1st recorded hole-in-one was “performed” by Tom Morris at Prestwick’s 166 yard 8th hole. Tom went on to beat his father, Old Tom, by 3 strokes and, at 17, became the youngest winner of the championship
  • Born on this day in 1880 was American track athlete Charles Archibald Hahn who is widely regarded to be one of the best sprinters in the early 20th century. He is the first athlete to win both 100m and 200m race at the same Olympics.
  • Today in 1905 saw the inaugural running of the Isle of Man RAC Tourist Trophy, the oldest surviving car race in the world
  • In 1923 Jack Dempsey scored a KO against Luis Firpo in the 2nd to win the heavyweight boxing title
  • Judith White Playfair, Australian breaststroke swimmer was born today in 1953, she won a silver medal in the 4×100 medley relay at the 1968 Mexico Olympics
  • Today in 1963 saw the Manchester United debut of George Best, one of Old Trafford’s favourite sons
  • On this day in 1968 Jimmy Ellis beat Floyd Patterson in the 15th round to take the heavyweight boxing title
  • In 1982 Trevor Baxter set a skateboard high jump record of 5′ 5.7″
  • Czech tennis star Ivan Lendl won his 3rd straight US title today in 1987, beating Sweden’s Mats Wilander 6-7, 6-0, 7-6, 6-4
  • On this day in 1996 Dean Headley equalled a world record by taking three hat-tricks in a single English county season. He achieved this feat for Kent against Hampshire in Canterbury. He equalled the world record earlier set by Charlie Parker in 1924 and J.S. Rao in 1963–64
  • The 2003 Solheim Cup, which was hosted by Europe outside of the UK for the first time, concluded today amid some controversy as Europe regained the Cup. Rosie Jones of the USA conceded a birdie putt to Catriona Matthew giving her a 3&1 win, Europe reached the 14½ points required to win the title for the third time. With the overall competition’s outcome decided four of the five remaining matches were conceded for a final score of 17½ to 10½
  • Faith Yvonne Leech, Australian freestyle swimmer, who died aged 72 on this day in 2013.  A tall and lean swimmer known for her elegant technique, Leech started swimming as a child to build strength after a series of stomach disorders in her infancy. She quickly rose to prominence after breaking a string of age group records. In 1955, she became the youngest swimmer to win an Australian title, claiming victory in the 110-yard freestyle at the age of 13. She twice broke the Australian record in the 100-yard freestyle in late 1955, thereby positioning herself as a leading contender for Olympic selection in 1956. Leech’s preparation was hindered by illness, which forced her out of the 1956 Australian Championships, but she recovered to gain Olympic selection in both the 100m freestyle and the corresponding relay. Leech produced a late surge to take bronze in the individual event and seal an Australian trifecta, before swimming the second leg in the relay to help secure an Australian victory in world record time. Leech retired after the Olympics at the age of 15; she cited anxiety caused by racing as one of the main factors in her decision
  • Another Australian sporting personality to die on this day was Davey Browne, Jr, a professional boxer, who passed away  in 2015,  three days after sustaining brain injuries in a match against Filipino Carlo Magali in Ingleburn, Australia. He was knocked out with 30 seconds left in the 12th and final round, one report had Browne winning the fight before the knockout and another stating that Browne was in control early, but that Magali had him in trouble in the 6th and had knocked him down in the 11th. There was speculation that Browne may have been distracted by loose tape on his gloves and taken his eyes off his opponent when the knockout punch landed.  Australian National Boxing Federation president John McDougall, who was in attendance, said after seeing Browne taken unconscious to hospital: “Now it’s in the hands of God, unfortunately.” The match was for an IBF regional title.

15th

  • Golf and the 1870 British Open, which was won today by Tom Morris, Jr. his 3rd straight title, once again beating Bob Kirk, this time by 12 strokes
  • Bob Anderson (15 September 1922 – 1 January 2012) was an English Olympic fencer and a renowned film fight choreographer, with a cinema career that spanned more than 50 years was born on this day in 1922. He was regarded as the premier choreographer of Hollywood sword-fighting and during his career he coached many actors in swordsmanship, including Errol Flynn, Sean Connery, Antonio Banderas and Johnny Depp. He also appeared as a stunt double for Darth Vader’s lightsaber battles in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
  • Today in 1928 saw Alfred “Tich” Freeman become the only bowler to take 300 wickets in an English cricket season.
  • Born on this day in 1936, Australian tennis player Ashley Cooper,  he was recognised as the world’s best amateur player during the years of 1957 and 1958, winning four singles and four doubles titles at Grand Slam tournaments.
  • On this day in 1961 the 61st edition of the US Golf Amateur Championship was won by a 21 year old Jack Nicklaus 
  • Today in 1962 saw Australia’s 1st entry in America’s Cup yacht race, unfortunately not a winning one
  • Welsh cricketer Steve Watkin was born today in 1964 he played for Glamorgan County Cricket Club and the England cricket team. A reliable seamer who never suffered serious injury despite several lesser niggles, he played three Test matches in 1991 and 1993, and four One Day Internationals in 1993 and 1994. He was one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1994, the only one of that year’s five who was not Australian.
  • On this day in 1978 Muhammad Ali beat Leon Spinks in 15 rounds to be crowned with the heavyweight boxing title
  • The 1985 Ryder Cup, hosted by Europe at  The Belfry saw Europe beating the USA, 16½-11½; the sole US loss in 50 years; Sam Torrance famously clinching the title for Europe beating Andy North
  • An upset in Olympic annals on this day in 1988 when Lillehammer surprisingly beat Anchorage to host 1994 Winter olympics
  • The 1991 US women’s gymnastics team won their 1st World Championships medal, silver
  • On this day in 2000 the 27th Olympic Games opened with a spectacular ceremony in Sydney, Australia
  • The 2013 Evian Championship saw the title go to Suzann Pettersen of Norway who won by 2 strokes over New Zealand amateur Lydia Ko. This was the first time the event had major title status
  • Russian boxer Gennady Golovkin lost his first professional fight in a record 20th title defence as well as undisputed world middleweight crown when outpointed by Mexican Canelo Álvarez  in Las Vegas on this day in 2018