Ten things to know from last week. September 27-October 3, 2022 included: USA Basketball, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Pitbull, etc.
Five things to know from last week
  1. Le Prix. Luke Morris (ENG) rode Alpinista (ENG) to eight consecutive victories by taking the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Vadeni (FRA), with Christophe Soumillon (FRA), and last year’s Champion, Torquator Tasso (DEU) with Frankie Dettori (ITA), were closing in but could not take the win from Alpinista. Soumillon will receive a 60-day-ban after elbowing jockey Rossa Ryan (IRL).
  2. USA, again. The United States won their fourth FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in a row, after beating China 83-61 in the Final. This is the first year without some major stars like Taurasi, Bird, and Griner.
  3. A weekend of Champions. Sergio Pérez (MEX, Red Bull) drove a masterclass to win the Singaporean Grand Prix. After a yellow flag, he needed to extend his advantage over Charles Leclerc (MCO, Ferrari) by over 5 seconds to avoid losing the win on a safety car-related penalty. He did. This weekend saw several Championships conclude. The FIM Speedway Grand Prix, saw Bartosz Zmarzlik (POL) take his third title. Kalle Rovanperä (FIN, Toyota) secured the FIA World Rally Championship title by winning the Rally New Zealand with two rallies to go. The FIA European Truck Racing Championship was won by Norbert Kiss (HUN, MAN) for the third time. In the IMSA SportsCar Championship, Meyer Shank Racing’s Tom Blomqvist (ENG), Hélio Castroneves (BRA), and Oliver Jarvis (ENG) won the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta and the English drivers secured the last ever DPi driver’s titles, as the class will give way to the return of GTP next year. Pfaff Porsche’s Matt Campbell (ENG) and Mathieu Jaminet (FRA) won the GTD Pro driver’s title.
  4. World Nomad Games. Turkey hosted the fourth World Nomad Games, which held world-class competitions for several sports, the majority of the wrestling family. Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and the next host, Kazakhstan, took the most gold medals.
  5. Long Drive. Conventional golf star Bryson DeChambeau (USA) almost pulled the upset at the Professional Long Drive Association World Championship by driving 406 yards with his club, but Martin Borgmeier (DEU) took the win with 426 yards. 406 was impressive, though!
  6. 11 in a row! Paola Longoria (MEX) continues to increase her legacy as the greatest female -and perhaps of any sex- Racquetball player of all time by winning her 11th consecutive -and 12th overall- US Open Racquetball Championship, and LPRT Grand Slam event. She also made it to the Doubles Finals with Samantha Salas (MEX), where they were beaten by Erika Manilla (USA) -who lost to her in the Singles Final- and Natalia Mendez (ARG). Another Mexican team, Álvaro Beltrán and Daniel de la Rosa, won their third US Open in Men’s Doubles while World Games Champion Conrrado Moscoso (BOL) won the Men’s Singles.
  7. Pitbull. Patrício Freire (BRA) got his record-extending 12th Bellator World title fight win by beating Ádám Borics (HUN) via a Unanimous Decision. This is his 11th Featherweight World Title fight won, which is more than anyone else in MMA history. Other big fights in the week included those in ONE. Tawanchai P.K. Saenchaimuaythaigym (THA) beat the legend Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy (THA) to take the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship, Xiong Jing Nan (CHN) beat Angela Lee (USA/SGP) in their third fight for a record-extending eight ONE Women’s Strawweight Championship fight win, and Mikey Musumeci (USA) beat Cleber Sousa (BRA) to become the first ONE Submission Grappling World Champion, in the Flyweight category.
  8. Eliminator. Titouan Perrin-Ganier (FRA) won his record-extending fifth UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country Eliminator World Championship, having won every single edition since 2017 bar one. Gaia Tormena (ITA) won on the women’s side, in what is her third world title, also a record.
  9. Canoe Marathon. The ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships took place in Portugal. Spain was the best with 4 gold medals in the Senior divisions out of 11 available. Liudmyla Babak (UKR) on her 5th consecutive gold medal in the Women’s C1. Sprint star Fernando Pimenta (POR) won the Men’s K1.
  10. London Marathon. The Major Marathon season continues, as the London Marathon was held in October instead of April to ensure a more massive participation. Amos Kipruto (KEN) won the men’s race with 2:04:39 while Yalemzerf Yehualaw (ETH) -the 10k World Record holder that made her Marathon debut this year- won the women’s race with 2:17:23. Unsurprisingly, Marcel Hug (CHE) won the men’s wheelchair race while Catherine Debrunner (CHE) made it two out of two in Marathons competed at/won, following her win in Berlin with the London triumph, and a course record.