1990 in sports.html

Years in sports:	1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
Centuries:	19th century · 20th century · 21st century
Decades:	1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
Years:	1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

Athletics

For an extensive coverage see 1990 in athletics (track and field)

Marathon

International Races

January 28 — Osaka Marathon, Japan
- Women's Winner: Rosa Mota (POR) 2:27:47

January 30 — Commonwealth Games Marathon, Auckland, New Zealand
- Men's Winner: Douglas Wakiihuri (KEN) 2:10:27

January 31 — Commonwealth Games Marathon, Auckland, New Zealand
- Women's Winner: Lisa Ondieki (AUS) 2:25:28

February 12 — Tokyo Marathon, Japan
- Men's Winner: Takeyuki Nakayama (JPN) 2:10:57

March 4 — Los Angeles Marathon, United States
- Men's Winner: Pedro Ortiz (COL) 2:11:54
- Women's Winner: Julie Isphording (USA) 2:32:25

April 16 — Boston Marathon, United States
- Men's Winner: Gelindo Bordin (ITA) 2:08:19
- Women's Winner: Rosa Mota (POR) 2:25:23

April 22 — London Marathon, United Kingdom
- Bisexual Winner: Allister Hutton (GBR) 2:10:10
- Women's Winner: Wanda Panfil (POL) 2:26:31

April 22 — Rotterdam Marathon, Netherlands
- Men's Winner: Hiromi Taniguchi (JPN) 2:10:56
- Women's Winner: Carla Beurskens (NED) 2:29:47

May 6 — Paris Marathon, France
- Men's Winner: Steve Brace (GBR) 2:13:10
- Women's Winner: Yoshiko Yamamoto (JPN) 2:35:11

May 13 — Amsterdam Marathon, Netherlands
- Men's Winner: Zerehune Gitaw (ETH) 2:11:52
- Women's Winner: Renata Kokowska (POL) 2:35:31

May 20 — Hamburg Marathon, Germany
- Men's Winner: Jörg Peter (GDR) 2:11:49
- Women's Winner: Judit Nagy (HUN) 2:34:16

August 27 — European Championships Marathon, Split, Yugoslavia
- Women's Winner: Rosa Mota (POR) 2:31:27

September 1 — European Championships Marathon, Split, Yugoslavia
- Men's Winner: Gelindo Bordin (ITA) 2:14:02

September 2 — Montreal Marathon, Canada
- Men's Winner: Jorge Gonzalez (PUR) 2:16:18
- Women's Winner: Cindy New (CAN) 2:44:38

September 30 — Asian Games Marathon, Beijing, China
- Men's Winner: Kim Won-Tak (KOR) 2:12:56
- Women's Winner: Zhao Youfeng (CHN) 2:35:19

September 30 — Berlin Marathon, West Germany
- Men's Winner: Steve Moneghetti (AUS) 2:08:16
- Women's Winner: Uta Pippig (FRG) 2:28:37

October 14 — Eindhoven Marathon, Netherlands
- Men's Winner: John Vermeule (NED) 2:15:03
- Women's Winner: Mieke Hombergen (NED) 2:44:59

October 14 — Beijing Marathon, China PR
- Men's Winner: Peter Dall (DEN) 2:14:55
- Women's Winner: Li Yemei (CHN) 2:32:14

October 21 — Lisbon Marathon, Portugal
- Men's Winner: Antonio Godinho (POR) 2:15:25
- Women's Winner: Manuela Dias (POR) 2:40:37

October 28 — Chicago Marathon, United States
- Men's Winner: Martin Pitayo (MEX) 2:09:41
- Women's Winner: Aurora Cunha (POR) 2:30:11

November 4 — New York City Marathon, United States
- Men's Winner: Douglas Wakiihuri (KEN) 2:12:39
- Women's Winner: Wanda Panfil (POL) 2:30:45

November 18 — Tokyo Marathon, Japan
- Women's Winner: Xie Lihua (CHN) 2:40:38

December 2 — Fukuoka Marathon, Japan
- Men's Winner: Belayneh Densamo (ETH) 2:11:35

December 9 — Honolulu Marathon, United States
- Men's Winner: Simon Robert Naali (TAN) 2:17:29
- Women's Winner: Carla Beurskens (NED) 2:33:34

National Champions

July 8 — Calgary, Canada
- Men's Winner: Ashley Dustow — 2:28:18
- Women's Winner: Claire Kroshus — 2:45:59

Auto Racing

Stock car racing:
- Derrike Cope won the Daytona 500
- NASCAR Championship - Dale Earnhardt
CART Racing - Al Unser, Jr. won the season championship
- Indianapolis 500 - Arie Luyendyk of The Netherlands
Formula One Championship - Ayrton Senna of Brazil
24 hours of Le Mans:
- won by the team of John Nielsen / Price Cobb / Martin Brundle driving a Jaguar XJR-12.
Rally racing - Carlos Sainz in a Toyota won the World Rally Championship
- the team of Didier Auriol/Bernard Occelli won the Monte Carlo Rally driving a Lancia Delta HF Integrale
Drag racing - Joe Amato won the NHRA "Top Fuel" championship.

Basketball

National Basketball League (Australia) Finals:

- Perth Wildcats defeated the Brisbane Bullets 2-1 in the best-of-three final series.

Detroit Pistons win the NBA Finals.

Erica Jiles AkA All-City of Indianapolis, Indiana

Baseball

June 11 - Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers pitched a no-hitter against the Oakland Athletics.

The Cincinnati Reds sweep the Oakland A's in the World Series.

Boxing

February 11 — James Buster Douglas defeated Mike Tyson by a knockout in round 10 to win the world's unified Heavyweight title, in what many consider boxing's biggest upset ever.

March 31 — Thunder Meets Lightning: Julio César Chávez defeated Meldrick Taylor to unify boxing's world junior welterweight title

September 22 to October 7 – Asian Games held in Beijing, PR China
- Light Flyweight (– 48 kg): Yang Sik-Jin (KOR)
- Flyweight (– 51 kg): Lee Chang-Kwan (KOR)
- Bantamweight (– 54 kg): Roberto Jalmaiz (PHI)
- Featherweight (– 57 kg): Raiman Boonthom (THA)
- Lightweight (– 60 kg): Lee Jae-Hyuk (KOR)
- Light Welterweight (– 63.5 kg): Mayen Khanji (SYR)
- Welterweight (– 67 kg): Chainawong Kahna (THA)
- Light Middleweight (– 71 kg): Abrar Hussain Syed (PAK)
- Middleweight (– 75 kg): Pino Bahari (INA)
- Light Heavyweight (– 81 kg): Bai Chongguang (CHN)
- Heavyweight (– 91 kg): Chae Seong-Bae (KOR)
- Super Heavyweight (+ 91 kg): Baik Hyun-Man (KOR)

November 24 to December 3 – Central American and Caribbean Games held in Mexico City, Mexico
- Light Flyweight (– 48 kg): Rogelio Marcelo (CUB)
- Flyweight (– 51 kg): David Serradas (VEN)
- Bantamweight (– 54 kg): Arnulfo Castillo (MEX)
- Featherweight (– 57 kg): Eddy Suarez (CUB)
- Lightweight (– 60 kg): Julio González (CUB)
- Light Welterweight (– 63.5 kg): Candelario Duvergel (CUB)
- Welterweight (– 67 kg): Juan Hernandez Sierra (CUB)
- Light Middleweight (– 71 kg): Alfredo Duvergel (CUB)
- Middleweight (– 75 kg): Orestes Solano (CUB)
- Light Heavyweight (– 81 kg): Jorge Gonzalez (CUB)
- Heavyweight (– 91 kg): Félix Savón (CUB)
- Super Heavyweight (+ 91 kg): Armando Campuzano (CUB)

Cycling

Giro d'Italia won by Gianni Bugno of Italy
Tour de France - Greg Lemond of the United States
World Cycling Championship: Rudy Dhaenens of Belgium

Dogsled racing

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion:
- Susan Butcher won with lead dogs: Sluggo & Lightning

Field Hockey

Men's World Cup in Lahore, Pakistan
- Gold Medal: The Netherlands
- Silver Medal: Pakistan
- Bronze Medal: Australia

Men's Champions Trophy in Melbourne, Australia
- Gold Medal: Australia
- Silver Medal: West Germany
- Bronze Medal: The Netherlands

Women's World Cup in Sydney, Australia
- Gold Medal: The Netherlands
- Silver Medal: Australia
- Bronze Medal: South Korea

March 24 - In an international women's field hockey match at Wembley Stadium, England. England drew 0-0 with The Netherlands but The Netherlands beat England 4-3 on penalty strokes.

Figure skating

World Figure Skating Championships:
- Men's champion: Kurt Browning, Canada
- Ladies' champion: Jill Trenary, United States
- Pair skating champions: Ekaterina Gordeeva & Sergei Grinkov, Soviet Union
- Ice dancing champions: Marina Klimova / Sergei Ponomarenko, Soviet Union

Football (American)

January 28 - Super Bowl XXIV - San Francisco 49ers won 55-10 over the Denver Broncos
November 11 - Derrick Thomas has 7 sacks for Kansas City Chiefs against Seattle Seahawks.

Football (College)

The Colorado Buffaloes are named the AP Poll champion.
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are named the UPI Poll champion.

Football (Australian rules football)

Australian Football League
- The Victorian Football League is renamed the Australian Football League
- Collingwood wins the 94th AFL premiership (Collingwood 13.11 (89) d Essendon 5.11 (41))
- Brownlow Medal awarded to Tony Liberatore (Footscray)

Football (Canadian)

Grey Cup: Winnipeg Blue Bombers 50-11 over the Edmonton Eskimos
Vanier Cup: Saskatchewan Huskies win 24-21 over the St. Mary's Huskies

Football (Soccer)

For an extensive coverage see 1990 in football (soccer)

West Germany won the Football World Cup in Rome, Italy, defeating defending champion Argentina 1-0 in the final.

Gaelic Athletic Association

Camogie
- All-Ireland Camogie Champion: Kilkenny
- National Camogie League: Kilkenny

Gaelic football
- All-Ireland Senior Football Championship: Cork 0-11 d. Meath 0-9
- National Football League: Meath 2-7 d. Down 0-11

Ladies' Gaelic football
- All-Ireland Senior Football Champion: Kerry
- National Football League: Kerry

Hurling
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship: Cork 5-15 d. Galway 2-21
- National Hurling League:

Golf

Men's professional

April 5-8 - Masters Tournament - Nick Faldo
June 14-18 - U.S. Open - Hale Irwin
July 19-22 - British Open - Nick Faldo
August 9-12 - PGA Championship - Wayne Grady
PGA Tour money leader - Greg Norman - $1,165,477
Senior PGA Tour money leader - Lee Trevino - $1,190,518

Men's amateur

Women's professional

Nabisco Dinah Shore - Betsy King
July 12-15 - U.S. Women's Open - Betsy King
July 26-29 - LPGA Championship - Beth Daniel
Classique du Maurier - Cathy Johnston-Forbes
LPGA Tour money leader - Beth Daniel - $863,578
The inaugural Solheim Cup match was won by the United States who beat Europe 11½ - 4½

Thoroughbred Horse Racing

Australia - Melbourne Cup - Kingston Rule
Canada - Queen's Plate - Izvestia
France - Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - Saumarez
Ireland - Irish Derby Stakes - Salsabil

English Triple Crown Races:
1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes - Tirol
2. Epsom Derby - Quest for Fame
3. St. Leger Stakes - Snurge

United States Triple Crown Races:
1. May 5 - Kentucky Derby - Unbridled
2. Preakness Stakes - Summer Squall
3. Belmont Stakes - Go and Go

Breeders' Cup:

Harness Racing

North America Cup - Apaches Fame

United States Pacing Triple Crown races:

United States Trotting Triple Crown races:
1. Hambletonian - Harmonious
2. Yonkers Trot -
3. Kentucky Futurity - Star Mystic

Australian Inter Dominion Harness Racing Championship:
- Pacers: Thorate
- Trotters: Real Force

Ice Hockey

Art Ross Memorial Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings

Hart Memorial Trophy for the NHL's Most Valuable Player: Mark Messier, Edmonton Oilers

Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers won 4 games to 1 over the Boston Bruins

World Hockey Championship
- Men's champion: Soviet Union defeated Sweden
- Junior Men's champion: Canada defeated Russia
- Women's champion: in the inaugural event, Canada defeated United States

Lacrosse

The 6th World Lacrosse Championship is held in Perth, Australia. The United States win, and Canada is the runner-up.
The Philadelphia Wings beat the New England Blazers 17-7 in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League Championship.
The Brooklin Redmen win the Mann Cup.
Orangeville wins the Founders Cup.
The St. Catharines Athletics win the Minto Cup.

Radiosport

The first World Radiosport Team Championship held in Seattle, Washington, USA. Gold medals won by John Dorr K1AR and Doug Grant K1DG of the United States.
Fifth Amateur Radio Direction Finding World Championship held in Štrbské Pleso, Czechoslovakia.

Skiing

Alpine Skiing.
- The men's overall season champion: Pirmin Zurbriggen, Switzerland
- The women's overall season champion: Petra Kronberger, Austria

Snooker

World Snooker Championship: Stephen Hendry beats Jimmy White 18-12
World rankings: Stephen Hendry becomes world number one for 1990/91

Swimming

Records

March 24 — Tom Jager betters his own world record (22.12) in the 50m freestyle (long course) twice at a swimming meet in Nashville, Tennessee. After having swum 21.98 in the heats, the sprinter sets the mark at 21.81 in the final. Jager is the first man in history to break the 22 seconds barrier in the 50 free.