February is an exciting month for sports fans. The NBA and NHL seasons are in full swing, and we have the Super Bowl, the NBA All-Star Game, college basketball tournaments, and spring training for MLB. NASCAR kicks off with the Daytona 500, and there are also Formula E races and PGA Tour events. Plus, we can’t forget the Winter Olympics!
February 21 has seen some unforgettable sports moments over the years. Here are a few highlights:
In 1953, Niagara beat Siena in the longest college basketball game, winning 88-81. The Biathlon made its Olympic debut in 1960 at the Squaw Valley Winter Olympics, with Sweden’s Klas Lestander taking home the first gold medal.
In 1980, American speed skater Eric Heiden set an Olympic record in the 1500 meters, winning gold in all five speed skating events at Lake Placid. That same year, Hanni Wenzel from Liechtenstein became the smallest country to produce an Olympic champion by winning the women’s giant slalom.
Fast forward to 1992, when Kristi Yamaguchi won gold in women’s figure skating. In 1993, the NBA All-Star Game took place in Salt Lake City, where John Stockton and Karl Malone were named co-MVPs.
In 2016, Denny Hamlin won the Daytona 500 in the closest finish ever, just 0.01 seconds ahead of Martin Truex Jr. More recently, in 2021, Novak Djokovic claimed his ninth Australian Open title, dominating Daniil Medvedev.
Three legends to remember on February 21 are Ted Williams, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Novak Djokovic. Williams, known as “The Splendid Splinter,” was the last player to hit over .400 in a season. Yamaguchi is celebrated for her Olympic gold in 1992, and Djokovic continues to break records in tennis.
