2009

January 5

• Canada beats Sweden 5-1 to win gold in the world junior hockey championships. This is Canada's fifth straight championship, and its 15th gold, matching Russia/Soviet Union for the all-time lead. [105]
• Free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley reaches terms on a three-year, US$30 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. [105]

January 17

• Joannie Rochette defends her Canadian figure skating championship, as she wins her fifth-straight national title. [105]

January 18

• The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens 23-14 in the AFC Championship game. The Arizona Cardinals defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 32-25 to claim the NFC crown. [35]

January 19

• Baltimore Orioles' outfielder Nick Markakis agrees to a six-year, US$66 million contract. [105]

January 25

• In Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the 57th NHL All-Star Game is held. The Eastern Conference team posts a 12-11 victory over their Western Conference counterparts. [105]
• In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Glenn Howard of Ontario defeats rival Kevin Martin of Alberta to win the Canadian Open Grand Slam curling event. [105]

January 26

• Kansas City Royals' pitcher Zack Greinke agrees to a four-year contract worth US$38 million. [105]

January 28

• Detroit Red Wings' forward Henrik Zetterberg signs a contract extension worth US$73 million over 12 years. [105]

January 31

• The Australian Open tennis championships final games are played (day one).
  • Girls' singles: Russian Ksenia Pervak defeats Britain's Laura Robson 6-3, 6-1.
  • Boys' singles: Indian Yuki Bhambri defeats Germany's Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas 6-3, 6-1.
  • Womens' singles: American Serena Williams defeats Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-3.
  [57]

February 1

• The Australian Open tennis championships final games are played (day two).
  • Mens' singles: Spaniard Rafael Nadal defeats Roger Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, (7-3), 3-6, 6-2.
  [57]
• In Tampa, Florida, the NFL's SuperBowl XLII game is played. The Pittsburgh Steelers win their record sixth Super Bowl by defeating the Arizona Cardinals. Santonio Holmes is named the game's most valuable player. [35]

February 5

• Undefeated world super-middleweight and light-heavyweight boxing champion Joe Calzaghe of the United Kingdom announces his retirement, with a record of 46 wins from 46 fights. [57]

February 8

• First baseman Ryan Howard and the Philadelphia Phillies agree to a three-year, US$54 million contract. [105]

February 9

• New York Yankees' baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez admits to having used performance-enhancing steroids earlier in his career, over a three-year period from 2001 to 2003 with the Texas Rangers. [57]
• At Plumpton, England, jockey Tony McCoy, riding Restless D'Artaix, records his 3,000th career horse racing win. [57]

February 14

• Mike Green of the Washington Capitals sets an NHL record for a defenceman by scoring in his eighth consecutive game. [105]

February 15

• In the NBA's annual All-Star Game, West beats East 146-119. [35]

February 18

• Meseret Defar of Ethiopia breaks the world indoor record in the women's 5,000-metres at the GE Gala meet in Stockholm, Sweden, covering the distance in a time of 14:24.37. [105]

March 1

• In Victoria, British Columbia, Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg wins her third Canadian women's curling Tournament of Hearts title with an 8-5 victory over Marla Mallett of B.C. [105]

March 14

• Annamay Pierse of Canada sets a new world's record in the women's 200-metre breaststroke swimming event, recording 2:17.50 at the short-course swimming championships in Toronto, Ontario. [105]

March 15

• Alberta's Kevin Martin wins his fourth Canadian championship curling Brier title in Calgary, defeating Jeff Stoughton 10-4 in the final game. [105]

March 16

• Jo Jackson wins the 400m freestyle in a new world record time of 4:00.66 at the British Swimming Championships. [57]

March 17

• Martin Brodeur, goalie for the NHL's New Jersey Devils, wins his 552nd game, breaking the former NHL record. [105]

March 23

• Japan defeats South Korea 5-3 in the 2009 World Baseball Classic at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. [105]

March 24

• Death of George Kell, third baseman (Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Baseball Hall of Fame), in his sleep at age 86 in Swifton, Arkansas. [335.A2]

March 27

• The International Olympic Committee decides to eliminate international torch relays ahead of future Olympic Games, due to protests held during previous Olympic torch relays. [57]

March 28

• Three Canadian figure skaters (Barbara Underhill, Paul Martini, and Brian Orser) are inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, in a ceremony at the world figure skating championships in Los Angeles, California. [105]

March 29

• At the world women's curling championship in Gangneung, South Korea, Bingyu Wang of China defeats Sweden's Anette Norberg 8-6 to give China its first-ever world women's curling championship title. [105]
• At least 22 people are killed and 132 injured in a stampede before a World Cup of soccer qualifying match in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. [105]

April 6

• North Carolina Tar Heels overwhelms Michigan State Spartans 89-72 in the final of the NCAA Tournament. [35]

April 12

• Women's world hockey championships in Hameenlinna, Finland won by United States defeating Canada 4-1. [105]
• Angel Cabrera becomes the first Argentine to win the Augusta National Masters golf tournament. [105]

April 13

• Former major-league pitcher (Detroit Tigers, 1976-80) Mark Fidrych dies in an apparent accident at his farm in Northborough, Massachusetts, at age 54. [105]

April 20

• Ethiopia's Deriba Merga wins the Boston Marathon (2:08:42), while Kenya's Salina Kosgei wins the women's race (2:32:16). [105]

April 25

• Matthew Stafford signs a contract with NFL's Detroit Lions for a six-year worth US$41.7-78 million. [105]

May 2

• At Churchill Downs, the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race takes place. Canadian horse Mine That Bird wins, the second-biggest upset in Derby history. [105]

May 7

• Los Angeles Dodgers' outfielder Manny Ramirez is suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for a banned substance. [105]
• The Boston Red Sox break an 84-year-old American League record by scoring 12 runs in an inning in a game against the Cleveland Indians. [105]

May 10

• In Bern, Switzerland, Russia defeats Canada to win gold in the championship game of the International Ice Hockey Federation. [105]

May 16

• In Baltimore, Maryland, USA, the 134th running of the Preakness Stakes is held. The philly Rachel Alexandra wins, ridden by Calvin Borel, the first win for a philly since 1924. [105]

May 24

• In Indianapolis, Indiana, the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 race is held. Winner is Helio Castroneves of Team Penske. [105]

May 27

• In Rome's Stadio Olimpico in Italy, Barcelona defeats Manchester United of England to win the Champions League of soccer. [57]

June 6

• Svetlana Kuznetsova beats fellow Russian Dinara Safina (6-4 6-2) to win the French Open tennis tournament in Paris. [57]

June 7

• Roger Federer beats Robin Soderling in straight sets (6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4) to win his first French Open tennis tournament in Paris. [105]

June 12

• The Pittsburgh Penguins win the NHL's Stanley Cup for the third time in franchise history, defeating the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in Game 7. [105]

June 14

• The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Orlando Magic 99-86 to win their 15th NBA championship in five games. Lakers coach Phil Jackson wins his record 10th title. [35]
• Three-time heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis is inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Lewis retired in 2003 with a record of 41-2-1, including 32 knockouts. [105]
• Anna Nordqvist finishes at 15-under-par 273 to win the LPGA Championship in Havre de Grace, Maryland, USA. [105]

June 17

• Ivan Rodriguez, back catcher for the Houston Astros, catches his 2,227th game, beating the old record in Major League Baseball. [105]

June 21

• Three-year-old colt "Eye of the Leopard" wins the 150th running of the Queen's Plate horse race in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. [105]
• Peugeot finishes first and second in the Le Mans 24-hour car race. [57]

June 23

• Lucas Glover wins the U.S. Open of golf at the Bethpage Black course on Long Island, New York. Glover takes home US$1.35 million for his 4-under par win. [105]

June 28

• Brazil wins the FIFA Confederations Cup final, defeating the USA 3-2 in South Africa. [105]

July 3

• Brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin re-sign with the NHL's Vancouver Canucks for five-year deals worth US$30.5 million each. [105]

July 4

• Serena Williams defeats sister Venus at Wimbledon with a straight-sets victory 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 giving her a third Wimbledon title. [57]

July 5

• Roger Federer defeats Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon men's tennis final, winning a five-set match 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 for a record 15th Grand Slam championship. [105]

July 28

• Gemma Spofforth sets a new world record of 58.12 seconds in the 100m backstroke to win swimming gold at the World Championships in Rome, Italy. [57]
• Germany's Paul Biedermann beats Michael Phelps in the men's 200m freestyle final to win gold, setting a new world record of 1:42.00 at the World Championships in Rome, Italy. [57]

August 16

• At the Athletics World Championships in Berlin, Germany, Usain Bolt of Jamaica sets a new world record in the 100m dash with a time of 9.58 seconds. [57]

August 20

• At the Athletics World Championships in Berlin, Germany, Usain Bolt of Jamaica sets a new world record in the 200m dash with a time of 19.19 seconds. [35]

August 23

• Eric Bruntlett of the Philadelphia Phillies completes only the second ever game-ending unassisted triple play in Major League Baseball, giving his team a 9-7 victory over the New York Mets. [35]

October 2

• The International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen votes 66-32 for the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, over Madrid, Spain. Chicago, Illinois was eliminated on the first ballot, and Tokyo, Japan was eliminated on the second ballot. [35]

October 22

• Philadelphia Phillies defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-4 in Major league Baseball to win the National League Championship Series four games to one and advance to the World Series. [35]