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2011 in sports facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

2011 in sports will describe the year's events in world sport.

Centuries: 20th century · 21st century · 22nd century
Decades: 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 2030s 2040s
Years: 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Alpine skiing

American football

Aquatics

  • July 16–31, 2011: 2011 World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai, China

Association football

Main article: 2011 in association football

Athletics

Main article: 2011 in athletics (track and field)

Basketball

Main article: 2011 in basketball

Beach Soccer

  • September 1–11 – The 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Ravenna, Italy.
    •  Russia puts an end to  Brazil's dominance, defeating them in the final by the score of 12–8.  Portugal claimed third place.

Beach volleyball

  • June 13–19 – The 2011 Beach Volleyball World Championships in Rome
    • Men's Event:  Emanuel Rego, Alison Cerutti (BRA)
    • Women's Event:  Larissa França, Juliana Felisberta (BRA)

Boxing

Main article: Boxing in the 2010s
  • January 29 – Timothy Bradley defeats Devon Alexander by a tenth round technical decision. The fight was stopped due to a cut Alexander had received from an accidental headbutt in the third round, which was made worse by two more headbutts in the eighth round and an final fourth headbutt in the tenth round. Both fighters came in with undefeated records and the fight was initially praised as one of the few good match-ups between two top ranked Americans in recent years. With the win, Bradley unified the light welterweight titles by defending his WBO title and winning Alexander's WBC title.
  • February 19 – Nonito Donaire defeats Fernando Montiel by technical knockout in the second round to unify the WBO and WBC bantamweight titles. Donaire started the fight strong by controlling most of the first round, landing a left hook that briefly stunned Montiel. In the second round Donaire started landing a few combinations before finishing Montiel with a solid hook that knocked out his opponent.
  • March 12 – Sergio Gabriel Martínez knocks out undefeated Sergiy Dzindziruk in the eighth round to win the vacant WBC diamond belt middleweight championship.
  • March 12 – Miguel Cotto knocks out Ricardo Mayorga in the twelfth round to retain his WBA world light middleweight title.
  • March 19 – Vitali Klitschko knocks out Odlanier Solís in the first round to retain his WBC heavyweight title for the sixth time. The knockout came as a surprise after Solís appeared to have sustained serious knee injury. Initially following the stoppage, Vitali Klitschko was angry at Solís and felt he took a dive. However following the fight Solís was taken to a hospital, where a scan revealed tears to his anterior cruciate ligament and external meniscus, as well as cartilage damage in his right knee.
  • April 2 – Giovanni Segura knocks out Iván Calderón in the third round in a repeat of 2010's fight of the year.
  • May 7 – Manny Pacquiao easily defeats Shane Mosley, retaining his WBO welterweight title by unanimous decision.
  • July 2 — Wladimir Klitschko defeats David Haye by unanimous decision, adding Haye's WBA heavyweight title to the four he already held.

Canadian football

Canoeing

  • August 17 - August 21, 2011: 2011 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Szeged, Hungary
  • September 7 - September 11, 2011: 2011 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia

Cheerleading

Cheerleading Worlds

28 April- 2 May – The Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida, USA

Australian calendar

Australian Challenge (regional championships)
April
May
June
July
August
Australian Cheer for a Cure (regional championships)
September
Australian Showdown (state championships)
August
September
Australian Grand (national championships)

September 24-25, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, New South Wales

Cricket

  • February 19-April 2 – 2011 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh
    • The tournament was won by India who defeated Sri Lanka by 6 wickets. India became the first host-nation to win the world cup with final played in the host country itself. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni played a captain's knock of unbeaten 91 in the final and was adjudged man of the match.
  • Dates TBA – ICC Champions Trophy will take place.
  • April 8-May 28 – 2011 IPL in India. Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 58 runs in the final to win for the second consecutive year.

Curling

2010–11 curling season

Season of Champions
Grand Slams
World Championships

2011–12 curling season

Season of Champions
Grand Slams

Fencing

  • October 8 - October 16: 2011 World Fencing Championships in Catania, Italy

Figure skating

Main articles: 2010–2011 figure skating season and 2011–2012 figure skating season
  • January 24–30 – 2011 European Figure Skating Championships in Bern, Switzerland
  • February 15–20 – 2011 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Taipei, Taiwan
  • February 28 – March 6 – 2011 World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Gangneung, South Korea
  • April 24 – May 1 – 2011 World Figure Skating Championships in Moscow, Russia

Gymnastics

  • 2011 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships
  • 2011 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships
  • 2011 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships
  • 2011 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships

Golf

Main article: 2011 in golf

Handball

  • January 13–30 – 2011 World Men's Handball Championship in Sweden
  • December 3–16 – 2011 World Women's Handball Championship in Brazil

Horse racing

Steeplechases
  • Cheltenham Gold Cup – Long Run
  • Grand National – Ballabriggs
  • Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris – Mid Dancer
  • Nakayama Grand Jump – Meiner Neos
Flat races
  • Australia:
  • Canadian Triple Crown:
    1. Queen's Plate – Inglorious
    2. Prince of Wales Stakes – Pender Harbour
    3. Breeders' Stakes –Pender Harbour
  • Luis Contreras becomes the first jockey to win the Canadian Triple Crown aboard two different horses in the same year.
  • Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Dubai World Cup – Victoire Pisa
  • France: Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – Danedream
  • Hong Kong: Hong Kong International Races
    • Hong Kong Vase –
    • Hong Kong Sprint –
    • Hong Kong Mile –
    • Hong Kong Cup –
  • Ireland: Irish Derby – Treasure Beach
  • Japan: Japan Cup –
  • English Triple Crown:
    1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Frankel
    2. Epsom Derby – Pour Moi
    3. St. Leger Stakes – Masked Marvel
  • United States Triple Crown:
    1. Kentucky Derby – Animal Kingdom
    2. Preakness Stakes – Shackleford
    3. Belmont Stakes – Ruler on Ice
  • Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky (both days arranged in 2010 race card order; 2011 order to be confirmed):
    • Day 1:
      1. Breeders' Cup Marathon –
      2. Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf –
      3. Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint –
      4. Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies –
      5. Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf –
      6. Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic –
    • Day 2:
      1. Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf –
      2. Breeders' Cup Sprint –
      3. Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint –
      4. Breeders' Cup Juvenile –
      5. Breeders' Cup Mile –
      6. Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile –
      7. Breeders' Cup Turf –
      8. Breeders' Cup Classic –

Ice hockey

  • 26 December (2010)–5 January: 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Buffalo, United States.
    • 1  Russia 2  Canada 3  United States
  • 1 January: Fourth NHL Winter Classic between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Capitals won the game 3-1.
  • 30 January: 58th National Hockey League All-Star Game was hosted by the Carolina Hurricanes. In a new format, the two teams were stocked in a "fantasy draft" by captains Nicklas Lidström and Eric Staal. Team Lidström defeated Team Staal 11–10, with Team Staal's Patrick Sharp (Chicago Blackhawks) named as game MVP.
  • 20 February: Second NHL Heritage Classic between the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
  • 25 March – April 9: 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.
    • Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs defeat the Michigan Wolverines 3-2 to win the championship.
  • 16 April: Salavat Yulaev Ufa wins the Gagarin Cup as champions of the Kontinental Hockey League, defeating Atlant Moscow Oblast 4–1 in the best-of-seven finals.
  • 16 April: The Clarenville Caribous defeat the Bentley Generals 5–3 to win the 2011 Allan Cup.
  • 29 April – 15 May 2011: 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia, with games being played in Bratislava and Košice.
    • 1 Flag of Finland.svg Finland 2 Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 3 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic
  • 8 May: Pembroke Lumber Kings defeat the Vernon Vipers 2–0 to win the 2011 Royal Bank Cup.
  • 29 May: Saint John Sea Dogs defeat the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 3–1 to win the 2011 Memorial Cup.
  • 31 May: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announces that the Atlanta Thrashers have been sold to a Winnipeg-based group and will move to that city. On 21 June, the NHL Board of Governors officially approves the move, and three days later the team is unveiled as the new Winnipeg Jets.
  • 15 June: The Boston Bruins defeat the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 in Game 7 to win the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas receives the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Patrice Bergeron becomes the newest member of the Triple Gold Club, adding the Cup to his gold medals with Team Canada in the 2004 World Championships and 2010 Olympics.
  • 7 September: A plane carrying KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl crashes; killing all but one player and one flight crew member. The league responds by stopping the season's first game, already in progress, and postponing the official season start.
  • 12 September:
    • On the day that Alexander Galimov, the only Lokomotiv player to survive the crash, dies of his injuries, Lokomotiv announces it will pull out of the KHL for the 2011–12 season. The team will play in the second-level Russian Major League this season and return to the KHL in 2012–13.
    • In other fallout from the crash, the Czech Extraliga announces it will delay the start of its 2011–12 season from 16 September to 18 September. The original start date conflicted with the funeral of Jan Marek, one of three Czechs killed in the crash.

Ice sledge hockey

  • February 12 - February 20 – 2011 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey European Championships in Sollefteå

Mixed martial arts

The following is a list of major noteworthy MMA events during 2011 in chronological order.

Date Event Alternate Name/s Location Attendance PPV Buyrate Notes
January 1 UFC 125: Resolution N/A United States Las Vegas, Nevada, USA 12,874 270,000 N/A
January 7 Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine ShoMMA 13: Woodley vs. Saffiedine United States Nashville, Tennessee, USA 2,631 N/A N/A
January 22 UFC Fight Night 23 United States Killeen, Texas, USA 3,200 N/A N/A
January 29 Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg N/A United States San Jose, California, USA 9,059 N/A N/A
February 5 UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort N/A United States Las Vegas, Nevada, USA 10,893 725,000 N/A
February 12 Strikeforce / M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Silva Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva United States East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA 11,287 N/A Quarterfinals to 2011 Strikeforce Heavyweight GP tournament.
Fedor Emelianenko suffers his second legitimate loss in a row and speculates retirement.
Gina Carano announces a return to MMA after being inactive for 18 months.
February 18 Strikeforce Challengers: Beerbohm vs. Healy ShoMMA 14: Beerbohm vs Healy United States Cedar Park, Texas, USA N/A N/A N/A
February 25 MFC 28: Supremacy N/A Canada Edmonton, Alberta, Canada N/A N/A N/A
February 26 UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch N/A Australia Sydney, Australia 18,186 260,000 N/A
February 26 BAMMA 5: Daley vs. Shirai N/A England Manchester, England N/A N/A N/A
March 3 UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann N/A United States Louisville, Kentucky, USA 8,319 N/A N/A
March 5 Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson Strikeforce: Columbus United States Columbus, Ohio, USA 7,123 N/A N/A
March 5 Bellator XXXV N/A United States Lemoore, California, USA N/A N/A Start of Bellator Season 4.
March 11 ADFC: Round 3 N/A United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi, UAE N/A N/A N/A
March 12 Bellator XXXVI N/A United States Shreveport, Louisiana, USA N/A N/A N/A
March 19 Bellator XXXVII N/A United States Concho, Oklahoma, USA N/A N/A N/A
March 19 UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones N/A United States Newark, New Jersey, USA 12,619 445,000 N/A
March 19 KSW XV: Contemporary Gladiators N/A Poland Warsaw, Poland N/A N/A N/A
March 26 Bellator XXXVIII N/A United States Tunica, Mississippi, USA N/A N/A N/A
March 26 UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis UFC Fight Night 24

UFC Fight Night: Seattle

 United States Seattle, Washington, USA 13,741 N/A N/A
April 1 Strikeforce Challengers: Wilcox vs. Damm ShoMMA 15: Wilcox vs. Damm United States Stockton, California, USA N/A N/A First Strikeforce event under Zuffa ownership.
April 2 Bellator XXXIX N/A United States Uncasville, Connecticut, USA N/A N/A N/A
April 8 MFC 29: Conquer N/A Canada Windsor, Ontario, Canada N/A N/A N/A
April 9 Bellator XL N/A United States Newkirk, Oklahoma, USA N/A N/A N/A
April 9 Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley N/A United States San Diego, California, USA N/A N/A N/A
April 16 Bellator XLI N/A United States Yuma, Arizona, USA N/A N/A N/A
April 23 Bellator XLII N/A United States Concho, Oklahoma, USA N/A N/A N/A
April 30 UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields N/A Canada Toronto, Ontario, Canada 55,724 800,000 (Min.)
900,000 (Max.)		 Randy Couture announces his retirement after nearly 14 years of competition.
April 30 Superior Challenge 7 N/A Sweden Stockholm, Sweden N/A N/A N/A
May 6 Tachi Palace Fights 9 N/A United States Lemoore, California, USA N/A N/A N/A
May 7 Bellator XLIII N/A United States Newkirk, Oklahoma, USA N/A N/A N/A
May 14 Bellator XLIV N/A United States Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA N/A N/A N/A
May 21 Bellator XLV N/A United States Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA N/A N/A End of Bellator season 4.
May 21 BAMMA 6: Watson vs. Ninja N/A England London, England N/A N/A Murilo Rua announces his retirement after 11 years of competition.
May 21 KSW XVI N/A Poland Gdańsk, Poland N/A N/A N/A
May 28 UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill N/A United States Las Vegas, Nevada, USA 12,753 300,000 (Min.)
325,000 (Max.)		 N/A
May 28 United Glory 14: 2010-2011 World Series Finals N/A Russia Moscow, Russia N/A N/A N/A
May 29 Dream: Fight for Japan! Dream Japan GP - 2011 Bantamweight Japan Tournament Japan Saitama, Japan 6,522 N/A N/A
June 4 The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale N/A United States Las Vegas, Nevada, USA N/A N/A N/A
June 10 MFC 30: Up Close and Personal N/A Canada Edmonton, Alberta, Canada N/A N/A N/A
June 11 UFC 131: dos Santos vs. Carwin N/A Canada Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 14,685 325,000 (Min.)
335,000 (Max.)		 N/A
June 18 Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum Strikeforce: Dallas United States Dallas, Texas, USA N/A N/A The event will feature the first women's bouts ever held by Zuffa.
June 24 Strikeforce Challengers: Fodor vs. Terry Strikeforce Challengers 16: Fodor vs. Terry United States Kent, Washington, USA N/A N/A N/A
June 25 Bellator XLVI N/A United States Hollywood, Florida, USA N/A N/A Start of Bellator 2011 Summer Series.
June 26 UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry N/A United States Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 7,792 N/A N/A
July 2 UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber 2 N/A United States Las Vegas, Nevada, USA 13,109 350,000 (Min.)
375,000 (Max.)		 N/A
July 16 Dream: Japan GP Final N/A Japan Tokyo, Japan 8,142 N/A N/A
July 22 Strikeforce Challengers: Voelker vs. Bowling III Strikeforce Challengers 17 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, USA N/A N/A N/A
July 23 Bellator XLVII N/A Canada Rama, Ontario, Canada N/A N/A N/A
July 30 Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson N/A United States Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA N/A N/A N/A
August 6 UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz 2 N/A United States Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 11,583 N/A N/A
August 12 Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Duarte ShoMMA 18 United States Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA N/A N/A N/A
August 14 UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle N/A United States Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA 6,751 N/A N/A
August 20 Bellator XLVIII N/A United States Uncasville, Connecticut, USA N/A N/A End of Bellator 2011 Summer Series.
August 27 UFC 134: Silva vs. Okami UFC: Rio Brazil Rio de Janeiro, Brazil N/A N/A N/A
September 3 ONE FC: Champion vs. Champion N/A Singapore Kallang, Singapore N/A N/A N/A
September 10 Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinals N/A United States Cincinnati, Ohio, USA N/A N/A N/A
September 10 Bellator XLIX N/A United States Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA N/A N/A Start of Bellator Season 5
September 10 BAMMA 7 N/A England Birmingham, England N/A N/A N/A
September 17 UFC Fight Night: Battle on the Bayou UFC Fight Night 25 United States New Orleans, Louisiana, USA N/A N/A N/A
September 17 Bellator L N/A United States Hollywood, Florida, USA N/A N/A N/A
September 23 Strikeforce Challengers 19 N/A United States Las Vegas, Nevada, USA N/A N/A N/A
September 24 Dream 17 N/A Japan Saitama, Japan N/A N/A N/A
September 24 Bellator LI N/A United States Canton, Ohio, USA N/A N/A N/A
September 24 UFC 135 N/A United States Denver, Colorado, USA N/A N/A N/A
October 1 UFC on Versus 6 N/A United States Washington, D.C., USA N/A N/A N/A
October 1 Bellator LII N/A United States Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA N/A N/A N/A
October 8 UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III N/A United States Houston, Texas, USA N/A N/A N/A
October 8 Bellator LIII N/A United States USA N/A N/A N/A
October 15 Bellator LIV N/A United States Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA N/A N/A N/A
October 29 UFC 137: St-Pierre vs. Diaz N/A United States Las Vegas, Nevada, USA N/A N/A N/A
November 5 UFC 138: Leben vs. Muñoz N/A England Birmingham, England N/A N/A The main event will be the first five round non-title fight in the history of the UFC.
November 19 UFC 139: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos N/A United States San Jose, California, USA N/A N/A N/A
November 19 Bellator Event N/A United States Hollywood, Florida, USA N/A N/A End of Bellator Season 5.
December 3 The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale N/A United States Las Vegas, Nevada USA N/A N/A N/A
December 10 UFC 140 N/A Canada Toronto, Ontario, Canada N/A N/A N/A

Motor racing

Formula One
Main article: 2011 Formula One season
NASCAR
Main articles: 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series, and 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
  • February 12 – Budweiser Shootout
  • February 20 – Daytona 500 — Trevor Bayne, a NASCAR rookie without a full-time Cup Series ride and starting only his second Cup race, becomes the youngest driver ever to win the race, on the day after his 20th birthday. He is also the first driver to win the race in his first attempt since the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959.
  • June 12 – 5-hour Energy 500 — Jeff Gordon collects his 84th Cup Series victory, equaling Darrell Waltrip for the most Cup wins in NASCAR's modern era (1972–present).
  • July 9 – Quaker State 400 — For the first time since 2001, a new track enters the Cup Series, with Kentucky Speedway making its debut. Kyle Busch's win, however, is largely overshadowed by massive traffic bottlenecks that reportedly prevented as many as 20,000 of the 107,000 ticketed fans from entering the track.
  • July 16 – New England 200 — Kyle Busch wins his 49th Nationwide Series race, equaling the series record of Mark Martin. This was also Busch's 100th win in NASCAR's three national touring series, a feat previously accomplished only by Richard Petty and David Pearson.
  • August 15 – Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen — Marcos Ambrose becomes the first Australian ever to win a Cup Series race.
  • August 26 – Food City 250 — Kyle Busch takes sole possession of the career record for Nationwide Series victories with his 50th win.
  • September 6 – AdvoCare 500 — Gordon wins his 85th Cup Series race, giving him sole possession of the record for Cup wins in the modern era.
  • November 20 – Ford 400: final Sprint Cup race for the 2011 NASCAR season
IndyCar
Main article: 2011 IndyCar Series season
World Rally Championship
Main article: 2011 World Rally Championship season
World Touring Car Championship
Main article: 2011 World Touring Car Championship season

Multi-sport events

  • 2011 Winter Universiade
  • 2011 Summer Universiade
  • 2011 All-Africa Games
  • 2011 Pan American Games
  • 2011 Asian Winter Games
  • 2011 South Asian Winter Games
  • 2011 Pacific Games
  • 2011 South East Asian Games
  • 2011 Military World Games
  • 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games
  • 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games
  • 2011 Island Games
  • 2011 ALBA Games
  • 2011 European Youth Winter Olympic Festival
  • 2011 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival

Netball

  • 3–10 July: 2011 Netball World Championships in Singapore

2011 April 15th – 20th National Netball Championships 17/U & 19/U

June 9th Diamonds v Silver Ferns, Palmerston North

12th Diamonds v Silver Ferns, Auckland

July 3rd – 10th World Netball Championships 2011

12th – 17th National Netball Championships 21/U

30th Jul – 18th Sep Australian Netball League 2011

September 8th – 11th NetFest 2011 – Netball on the Gold Coast

October 9th Diamonds v England, Newcastle

12th Diamonds v England, Canberra

16th Diamonds v England, Sydney

23rd Diamonds v Silver Ferns, Perth

26th Diamonds v Silver Ferns, Adelaide

30th Diamonds v Silver Ferns, Melbourne

Nordic Skiing

  • February 22 - March 6 – FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 in Oslo
  • March 29 - April 11 – 2011 IPC Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk

Rink Hockey

  • 2011 Rink Hockey Asian Championship
  • 2011 Ladies Rink Hockey European Championship
  • 2011 Rink Hockey World Championship San Juan, Argentina
  • 2011 Rink Hockey World Championship U-20, probably in Portugal
  • 2011 Ladies Rink Hockey European Championship

Road bicycle racing

  • May 7 - May 29: 2011 Giro d'Italia
    • Alberto Contador sealed overall victory in the Giro d'Italia for the second time in his career.
  • July 2 - July 24: 2011 Tour de France
    • Australian Cadel Evans won the race, having gained the lead in a time-trial on the penultimate day. He became the first Australian to win the race, and at 34, the oldest post-war winner.
  • August 20 - September 11: 2011 Vuelta a España
  • September 19 - September 25: 2011 UCI Road World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark
    • British Mark Cavendish became the first British male since Tom Simpson to win the road race title

Rowing

  • August 28 to September 4 – 2011 World Rowing Championships will be held at Lake Bled, Bled, Slovenia.

Rugby league

  • 13 February; NRL All Stars Game
  • 23 February; World Club Challenge
  • May; City vs Country Origin
  • May; Australia vs New Zealand ANZAC Test
  • 25 May–6 July: State of Origin
    • Queensland colours.svg Queensland defeat New South Wales colours.svg New South Wales 2–1 for their sixth consecutive series win.
  • 10 June: International Origin Match at Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds
    • In the first of what is planned to be an annual affair, the Exiles, a team consisting of non-English Super League players, defeated Flag of England.svg England 16–12.
  • August; Challenge Cup final
  • 11 March to 2 October; National Rugby League season
  • 12 February to 2 October; 2011 Super League season
  • November; Rugby League Four Nations

Rugby union

  • 4 February – 19 March: Six Nations Championship
  • 20 May: Amlin Challenge Cup Final at Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
    • England Harlequins claimed the title with a 19–18 win over France Stade Français, becoming the first team to win the Challenge Cup three times.
  • 21 May: Heineken Cup Final at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
  • IRB Sevens World Series –  New Zealand clinched the series title at the London Sevens on 22 May, with the Edinburgh Sevens remaining to be played.
  • 24 May–5 June: 2011 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in Georgia
    • 1  Samoa, 2  Japan and 3  Georgia. This was the first title for Samoa.
  • 10–26 June: 2011 IRB Junior World Championship in Italy
    • 1  New Zealand, 2  England and 3  Australia. This was the fourth title for New Zealand.
  • 9 July: Super Rugby Final at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
    • The Australia Reds claimed their first title in the competition's professional era with an 18–13 win over the New Zealand Crusaders.
  • 23 July–27 August: Tri Nations Series
  • 9 September–23 October: 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand
Domestic competitions
  • England English Premiership – Final, 28 May at Twickenham: Leicester Tigers vs. Saracens
    • Saracens defeated Leicester Tigers 22–18 for their first-ever Premiership title.
  • RFU Championship — Worcester Warriors. As the only side among the semifinalists that met the requirements for promotion, they replaced Leeds Carnegie in the 2011–12 Premiership.
  • France Top 14 – Final, 4 June at Stade de France: Toulouse vs. Montpellier
    • Toulouse won 15–10 and lifted the Bouclier de Brennus for the 18th time.
  • Rugby Pro D2 — Lyon won the championship and automatic promotion to the Top 14. Bordeaux Bègles won the promotion playoffs. The two clubs will replace La Rochelle and Bourgoin.
  • Ireland Italy Scotland Wales Celtic League – Grand Final, 28 May in Limerick:
    • In an all-Irish affair, Munster won their third title against Leinster 19–9.
  • England Wales LV Cup (Anglo-Welsh Cup) – Gloucester
  • New Zealand ITM Cup:
    • Premiership – Final, 3 September in Hamilton: Waikato vs. Canterbury
      • Canterbury won 12−3 for their fourth consecutive title in the Air New Zealand/ITM Cup and ninth in the history of New Zealand provincial rugby.
    • Championship: Final, 4 September in Palmerston North: Manawatu vs. Hawke's Bay
      • Hawke's Bay won 35−30 and will replace Southland in the 2012 ITM Cup Premiership.
  • South Africa Currie Cup: Season in progress
Other major events
  • 26 February: During the England–France match in the Six Nations, England's Jonny Wilkinson retakes the all-time lead for career Test points from New Zealand's Dan Carter.
  • 27 February: During the Scotland–Ireland match in the Six Nations, Ireland's Ronan O'Gara retakes the all-time lead for career points in the Championship from Wilkinson.
  • 19 March: During the Ireland–England Six Nations match, two Irish players reach major career milestones in the Championship:
    • Brian O'Driscoll takes over the all-time lead for career tries in the Championship with his 25th try, breaking the record of Scotland's Ian Smith that had lasted since 1933.
    • O'Gara makes his 56th appearance in the Championship, drawing level with countryman Mike Gibson for the Championship record.
  • 30 July: During New Zealand's Tri Nations opener at home to South Africa, Carter reclaims the all-time lead for career Test points from Wilkinson.

Tennis

Volleyball

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Deporte en 2011 para niños

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