Five things to know from what happened in the world of sport. February 9-15, 2021.
  1. Daytona Crash Fest. The Daytona 500 was filled with accidents. With less than 15 laps in, 16 cars had already been involved in a wreck. This did not change in the last lap: a wreck allowed Michael McDowell (USA) to take his first NASCAR Cup race, at the biggest stage. Watch the highlights (NASCAR)
  2. Almost Perfect Eckhoff. Tiril Eckhoff (NOR) had a great start at the IBU Biathlon World Championship. She won gold in the first three competitions she has competed in so far: the 7.5 km Sprint, the 10 km Pursuit and the 4×7.5 Mixed Relay. Markéta Davidová (CZE) won the 15 m. Individual. Also perfect was Émilien Jacquelin (FRA), who did not miss single shot en route to the Men’s 12.5 km Pursuit gold. Martin Ponsiluoma (SWE) won the 10 km Sprint. (Watch the week 1 highlights – IBU)
  3. Cross World Champions. Sweden hosted the Ski and Snowboard Cross World Championships. In Ski Cross, Alex Fiva (SUI) won his first medal at a World Championship by taking the Men’s gold. In Women’s, Sara Naeslund (SWE) managed to get a local win by surprising Smith (SUI) and Baron (FRA), silver and bronze. In Snowboard, Lucas Eguibar (ESP) won the men’s gold and Charlotte Bankes (ENG) took the women’s, while Australia won the mixed team competition. Watch a quick recap (FIS)
  4. Alpine Worlds. Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) has been the only skier from a non-Alpine country to so far take gold at the 2021 Alpine Ski World Championship. She won the Alpine Combined, her 6th World Championship gold. The other two women’s golds have been for Switzerland: Corinne Suter took gold in Downhll and silver in Super-G, and Lara Gut-Behrami won the Super G and took bronze in Downhill. The three men’s golds have been or Austria, with Vincent Kriechmayr taking the Downhill and Super-G  (Watch Kriechmayr’s Downhill run – FIS)
  5. Dutch Speed Skaters. Dutch skaters took 7 of the 14 gold medals at the 2021 World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen (NED). Nils van der Poel (SWE) broke the 10,000 meters World Record en route to the gold. He also won the 5,000 gold. Irene Schouten (NED) took two golds: in the 5,000 meters and Team Pursuit, with Ireen Wüst (NED), who won her 22nd World Championship gold, a record in the sport. (Watch the Final day recap – ISU)