A sport is always one of the places where you can expect miracles. From the downfall of giants at the hand of minnows to the failure of a team in a competition where it was sure to win, sports often spring the most surprises. Another thing that sports bring to the table is momentum be it positive or negative. From winning streaks of teams or individuals to losing streaks that just don’t stop, there is nothing that the sports fraternity hasn’t witnessed. Here is a list of the top 10 streaks in sports that would leave you stunned for sure!
1. Boston Celtic’s Eight Consecutive Championship Victories
There is no doubt that one of the greatest streaks in sports is the Boston Celtic’s amazing run of Championship wins in the 1950s and 1960s. Led by Bill Russell, Celtics started their winning streak in 1959 and continued their streak till 1966 before they were finally beaten. Yet, the side came back to win two more back-to-back titles in 1968 and 1969 just to show how much dominant they were.
2. Byron Nelson’s 11 Consecutive Victories on a PGA Tour
Back in 1945, Byron Nelson went on a streak of PGA Tour victories that no one has been able to break till now. The professional golfer wasn’t considered that good before he started that streak but stunned all when he stretched it to 11 victories in a row. Tiger Woods remains the only man to have ever come close but he could also only manage 8 victories in a row.
3. Martina Navratilova’s Grand Slam Winning Streak
An amazing athlete and tennis player, Martina Navratilova made a record when she continuously won a Grand Slam for 16 straight years. Most of the players don’t even manage to win more than a single GS but this lady went on to win Grand Slams for 16 straight years. She obviously achieved the feat by playing both singles, doubles and mixed doubles and won Grand Slams in all formats at one stage or the other.
4. Arsenal’s 49-Game Unbeaten Streak
In football, to remain unbeaten for a long time is considered impossible as it only needs one unstoppable shot or one mistake which can lead to defeat. However, the Arsenal side of 2003 and 2004 defied the odds by stretching their undefeated streak to 49 games. They were beaten by Manchester United at the end.
5. Roger Federer’s 36 Consecutive Grand Slam Quarter Final Appearance
Roger Federer is one of the greats of Tennis and he has a number of achievements to his name. However, one feat that is mind-numbing is his 36 consecutive qualifications to quarter-finals in Grand Slams. The run is stretches 9 years which shows the real achievement of the man.
6. Australian Cricket Team’s 16 Consecutive Test Wins
The Australian Cricket side was extremely dominant in the late 1990s and the 2000s and it showed its dominance in Test arena more than anywhere else. The biggest achievement of the side was its 16 consecutive Test wins before India defeated them in 2001.
7. 2632 Consecutive Appearances by Cal Ripken
Cal Ripken, the famous baseball player, has the biggest streak in Major League Baseball. He played 2,632 games in a row spanning 16 seasons. The player actually ended the run himself by making himself unavailable for the game.
8. St. George Dragons 11 Consecutive Premiership Wins in Rugby
Amassing 11 consecutive victories in Australian National Rugby League, St. George Dragons etched their name in history for all to see. They were eventually defeated after the rules were changed so as to ensure that the competition could become a bit more even.
9. 56 Consecutive Game Hits by Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio remains one outstanding baseball player and his achievement of consecutive game hits is unbelievable to say the least.
10. Brett Favre’s 297 Consecutive Appearances in American Football
The achievement of Brett Favre is amazing as most players in American Football don’t even appear consecutively for an entire season. The resilient quarter-back continuously played 297 games without a break!
If you know of any other amazing sports streaks do let us know in the comments below.