1961 in sports

See also:

Births

• January 2 - Carole Teffri, former French field hockey international
• January 26 - Wayne Gretzky, Ice hockey player
• February 11 - Mary Docter, American speed skater
• February 21 - Davey Allison, automobile racer (+ 1993)
• March 4 - Ray Mancini, boxer
• March 14 - Kirby Puckett, Baseball Hall of Famer
• March 21 - Lothar Matthäus, German footballer
• May 13 - Dennis Rodman, NBA player
• June 26 - Greg LeMond, cyclist, three-time Tour de France winner
• July 1 - Carl Lewis, athletics legend, nine-time Olympic gold medalist
• August 16 - Sandie Lister, British field hockey international
• September 2 - Carlos Valderrama, footballer
• September 15 - Dan Marino, American football star
• October 11 - Steve Young, American football star
• December 19 - Reggie White, American football star
• December 31 - Shelley Fruin,New Zealand cricketer