1976 in sports

1976 in sportsdescribes the year's events in world sport.

Alpine skiing

Alpine Skiing World Cup
- Men's overall season champion:Ingemar Stenmark,Sweden
- Women's overall season champion:Rosi Mittermaier,West Germany

American football

January 18 –Super Bowl X:thePittsburgh Steelers(AFC) won 21−17 over theDallas Cowboys(NFC)
- Location:Miami Orange Bowl
- Attendance: 80,187
- MVP:Lynn Swann,WR (Pittsburgh)
Lee Roy Selmonis selected as the first overall pick in theNFL draft.(April 8)
Seattle Seahawksfounded.
Tampa Bay Buccaneersfounded.
Orange Bowl(1975 season):
- TheOklahoma Soonerswon 14–6 over theMichigan Wolverinesto win the college footballnational championship
Tony Dorsettis awarded theHeisman Trophy(November 30).

Association football

England – FA Cup–Southamptonwon 1–0 overManchester United
Stevenage F.C.were established
Italy –TorinowinSerie Afor the first time since theSuperga air disasterwiped out the team 27 years before.
1976 European Championship–CzechoslovakiabeatWest Germany5–3 onpenaltiesto win, after the game had ended 2-2 after extra time.

Athletics

July –Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympicsheld at Montreal

Australian rules football

Victorian Football League
- Hawthornwins the 80thVFL Premiership(Hawthorn 13.22 (100) dNorth Melbourne10.10 (70))
- Brownlow Medalawarded toGraham Moss(Essendon)

Baseball

April 17 –Mike Schmidtof thePhiladelphia Phillieshits four consecutive home runs in a game against the Chicago Cubs.
April 25 –Chicago CubsoutfielderRick Mondayrescues anAmerican flagjust as two protesters are about toburn itin the outfield during a game atDodger Stadium.
Sparky Lyleof theNew York YankeesbreaksHoyt Wilhelm's American League record of 154 career saves.
World Series– TheCincinnati Reds(aka the "Big Red Machine") sweep theNew York Yankees,4 games to 0, to win their second straight championship.

Basketball

NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship–
- Indianawins 86–68 overMichigan
NBA Finals–
- Boston Celticswin 4 games to 2 over thePhoenix Suns
1976 ABA Playoffs–
- New York NetsdefeatDenver Nuggets4 games to 2
American Basketball Associationmerges with theNational Basketball Association.Of the seven remaining teams in the ABA, theVirginia Squiresfold,Kentucky ColonelsandSpirits of St. Louisare bought out, and the remaining four teams (San Antonio Spurs,Denver Nuggets,New York Nets,andIndiana Pacers) join the NBA

Boxing

May 22 – death ofOscar Bonavena(34), Argentinian heavyweight, who was shot in Reno, Nevada
September 28 inYankee Stadium,Bronx,New York Muhammad Aliwon a controversial 15-round decision overKen Nortonto keep his World Heavyweight title.
October 8 inSão Paulo,Brazil, former world featherweight championEder Jofrefought his last fight, outpointingMexico'sOctavio (Famoso) Gomezin ten rounds.

Canadian football

Grey Cup–Ottawa Rough Riderswon 23–20 over theSaskatchewan Roughriders
Vanier Cup–Western Ontario Mustangswon 29–13 over theAcadia Axemen

Cycling

Giro d'Italiawon byFelice Gimondiof Italy
Tour de France–Lucien Van Impeof Belgium
UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race–Freddy Maertensof Belgium

Dogsled racing

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion–
- Gerald Rileywon with lead dogs:Puppy&Sugar

Field hockey

Olympic Games (Men's Competition)in Montreal won by New Zealand
Women's World Cupin Berlin won by West Germany

Figure skating

World Figure Skating Championships–
- Men's champion:John Curry,Britain
- Ladies' champion:Dorothy Hamill,United States
- Pair skating champions:Irina Rodnina&Alexander Zaitsev,Soviet Union
- Ice dancing champions:Lyudmila Pakhomova&Alexandr Gorshkov,Soviet Union

Golf

Men's professional

Masters Tournament–Raymond Floyd
U.S. Open–Jerry Pate^[1]
British Open–Johnny Miller
PGA Championship–Dave Stockton
PGA Tourmoney leader –Jack Nicklaus– $266,439

Men's amateur

Women's professional

LPGA Championship–Betty Burfeindt
U.S. Women's Open–JoAnne Carner
LPGA Tourmoney leader –Judy Rankin– $150,734, she is the first to ever earn more than $100,000 in a season.

Harness racing

United States Pacing Triple Crown races–
United States Trotting Triple Crown races–
Australian Inter Dominion Harness Racing Championship–
- Pacers:Carclew
- Trotters:Bay Johnny

Horse racing

Steeplechases

Flat races

Australia –Melbourne Cupwon byVan der Hum
Canada –Queen's Platewon byNorcliffe
France –Prix de l'Arc de Triomphewon byIvanjica
Ireland –Irish Derby Stakeswon byMalacate
English Triple Crown Races:
1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes–Wollow
2. The Derby–Empery^[2]
3. St. Leger Stakes–Crow
United States Triple Crown Races:

Ice hockey

Art Ross Trophyas theNHL's leading scorer during the regular season:Guy Lafleur,Montreal Canadiens
Hart Memorial Trophyfor theNHL's Most Valuable Player:Bobby Clarke–Philadelphia Flyers
Stanley Cup–Montreal Canadienswin 4 games to 0 over thePhiladelphia Flyers
World Hockey Championship–
- Men's champion:Czechoslovakiadefeated the Soviet Union
Avco World Trophy–Winnipeg Jetswin 4 games to 0 over theHouston Aeros
NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship–University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesGolden Gophers defeatMichigan Technological UniversityHuskies 6–4 inDenver, Colorado

Motorsport

Rugby league

29 June – theWorld Club Challengeconcept is trialled as English championsSt. Helenstravel to Sydney to play Australian championsEastern Suburbs.Easts defeat St Helens 25–2 in theone-off match.
18 August – the1976 Amco Cuptournament culminates inBalmain's 21–7 win overNorth Sydneyin the final
18 September – the1976 NSWRFL seasonculminates inManly-Warringah's 13–10 win overParramattain the Grand Final

Rugby union

82ndFive Nations Championshipseries is won byWaleswho complete theGrand Slam

Snooker

World Snooker Championship–Ray ReardonbeatsAlex Higgins27-16
World rankingsare introduced.Ray Reardonbecomes the firstworld number one,for 1976/77.

Swimming

July 18 to July 25 –XXI Olympic Games,held in Montreal
August 14 – United States'sJonty Skinnersets the first official world record in the50m freestylein Philadelphia, clocking 23.86

Tennis

Grand Slam in tennismen's results:
Grand Slam in tenniswomen's results:
Davis Cup– Italy wins 4–1 overChilein world tennis.

Water polo

Water polo at the 1976 Summer Olympicsin Montréal won by Hungary

General sporting events

1976 Summer Olympicstakes place inMontreal,Quebec, Canada
- USSRwins the most medals (125), and the most gold medals (49).
1976 Winter Olympicstakes place inInnsbruck,Austria
- USSRwins the most medals (27), and the most gold medals (13).
FifthPan Arab Gamesheld inDamascus, Syria

Awards

Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year–Caitlyn Jenner(then Bruce),^[a]Track and field
Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year–Nadia Comăneci,Gymnastics
ABC'sWide World of SportsAthlete of the Year: Nadia Comăneci, Gymnastics

Notes

^Jenner changed her name due togender transitionin 2015.^[3]

References

^Felber, Bill (January 2019).The Hole Truth: Determining the Greatest Players in Golf Using Sabermetrics.U of Nebraska Press. p. 193.ISBN 978-1-4962-1276-4.
^"Epsom Derby | History, Winners, & Facts | Britannica".www.britannica.com.Retrieved3 January2022.
^Buzz Bissinger(June 1, 2015)."Introducing Caitlyn Jenner".Vanity Fair.RetrievedJune 1,2015.

[4] Jenner changed her name due togender transitionin 2015.^[3]

[1] Felber, Bill (January 2019).The Hole Truth: Determining the Greatest Players in Golf Using Sabermetrics.U of Nebraska Press. p. 193.ISBN 978-1-4962-1276-4.

[2] "Epsom Derby | History, Winners, & Facts | Britannica".www.britannica.com.Retrieved3 January2022.

[3] Buzz Bissinger(June 1, 2015)."Introducing Caitlyn Jenner".Vanity Fair.RetrievedJune 1,2015.

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