It was an unusual and amazing sporting year that featured a fairytale in New York and robberys in Abu Dhabi. The Ghost Games of Tokyo, as well as the familiar pain of England's penalty shootout defeat.
Fans were sorely missed in the beginning of the year, and the behind-closed doors era continued.
Emma Radacanu stunned the sporting world when she won the US Open title
Football supporters at that time were celebrated for their leadership in the destruction of the hated European Super League.
But as stadiums began to fill, England was shamed by a drink-and-drugs-fuelled mob which severely tarnished the national team's first major tournament final in 55 years.
The vandalism at Wembley just before the Euros final defeat by Italy were as depressing and as outrageous as the arrogance of 12 clubs, including the Premier League's Big Six, threatening to tear apart the fabric of football through their Super League.
It was met with ridicule and revulsion as the scheme was destroyed in just 48 hours.
The Super League plotters laughed at the notion that anything could happen in sport.
In September, Flushing Meadows saw the realization of an impossible dream when an 18-year old tennis player from Kent became first to qualify for a Grand Slam singles event for women and first British woman to win a major title since Virginia Wade.
Free Bets: Get more than PS2,000 in NEW CUSTOMER DEALSEmma Raducanu's remarkable campaign at the US Open is a British sporting success story, in this year or any other.
Ten matches, ten straight sets victories culminated in a 6-4, 6-3 victory against Leylah Farandez. This was a stunning display from a youngster, whose first Grand Slam at Wimbledon ended in medical retirement. Her resolve was doubtful.
They were so wrong!
Rachael Blackmore, a woman from Ireland, won the Grand National at Aintree aboard Minella Times. She had previously been the first female leading jockey at Cheltenham Festival.
Raducanu's only contender for Britain's sportsperson-of-the year should have been Lewis Hamilton. He fought a Formula One title fight with Max Verstappen (a young Dutch upstart).
Hamilton's attempt to win a record eighth world title was stopped by Verstappen's anarchy in Abu Dhabi. Michael Masi, race director, thought he was more of a Hollywood director than a guardian for the rules.
Raducanu was awarded an MBE in New Year Honours. But he wasn't the only teenager to be put under extreme pressure. Bukayo Saka's decisive penalty was saved by Gianluigi Donarumma and England's Euros ended in the most brutal shootout defeat.
After failing to get the spot, the then 19-year old suffered from sickening online abuse. However, the Arsenal kid felt the support of many fans and received a standing ovation from Spurs supporters in a preseason friendly.
England beat Ukraine, Croatia, Germany, Ukraine, Ukraine, and Denmark in their triumphant march to the final.
Gareth Southgate was the most successful Three Lions manager since Sir Alf Ramsey. Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, and Declan Rice led from the front. Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice were invincible in midfield. Kyle Walker, Harry Maguire, and John Stones formed an all-Yorkshire defense three.
Luke Shaw, who enjoyed a remarkable tournament and opened the scoring within two minutes of the end of the final, was the surprise hit of the summer.
It was a joyful and lively atmosphere as Southgate's team came back from behind to beat the Danes in semi-final.
However, this was in stark contrast to the violence of the final. The Three Lions were forced to face Italy in closed doors next year in the Nations League.
Major sport was forced back into silence at the Olympics Tokyo. Although delayed by one year, it still couldn't provide an authentic soundtrack for the crowd.
Team GB achieved 22 golds. This is less than their Rio and London totals but still a remarkable achievement compared with a generation ago.
Adam Peaty, the first Brit to win an Olympic swimming title, was also the first Brit to do so. He, along with Tom Dean, won two golds.
Jason Kenny and Laura Kenny, cycling spouses, entered the record books. Their Cheshire home now holds fifteen Olympic medals, including a dozen gold ones.
After 13 years of hard work, diver Tom Daley and Matty Lee finally reached the top in the synchronized ten-meter.
Mental health was also a focus of the Olympics. Simone Biles, the brightest American gymnast, pulled out from the final of the women's team. She claimed she felt "the weight of the entire world" on her shoulders.
Ben Stokes, perhaps England's most competitive sportsman, took a four month break from cricket that week to prioritize his mental health.
Stokes and Biles were honest with themselves, showing that even the most powerful are vulnerable, especially under Covid's oppressive restrictions.
Thomas Tuchel, who inherited a Chelsea mid-table side from Frank Lampard and won a quadruple for Pep Guardiola, was a champion of football and brought a second European Cup to Stamford Bridge.
Manchester City won their Premier League title with ease, but Guardiola's men were defeated in three competitions by Guardiola's team. The final result was a Champions League victory in Porto.
Five years after their title glory, Leicester beat Chelsea to win the first FA Cup. However, a second consecutive year of late collapse saw them lose the Champions League.
Manchester United, however, continued to struggle despite having made the league's most notable signing of 2021 with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was a caretaker and should not have been a permanent boss. He was replaced by Michael Carrick, who was then an interim manager in Ralf Rangnick.
Other than Old Trafford, the biggest disappointment of the year was the inability of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua to fight for the world heavyweight boxing title.
The much-anticipated, all-British contest was made possible when Fury was ordered by American judges to complete his trilogy against Deontay wilder.
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Joshua at Tottenham, not the only significant away win during Nuno Espirito Sante's reign. He also lost all three of his belts.
The chances of Joshua Fury ever coming to pass were further reduced after that.
Wilder and Fury managed a third epic with the Gypsy King ending the Alabama slugger in Vegas' 11th round.
The British and Irish Lions were defeated in South Africa by world champions South Africa. Europe was thrashed by America in the Ryder Cup, and England's cricketers have lost The Ashes.
The greatest disappointment was the gathering dark clouds of Covid as the year ends -- they threatened our lives, freedom and the most important thing of all, our sport.
Free Bets: Get more than PS2,000 in NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
