1919: Swimmer Gertrude Ederle became the youngest world record holder in any sport when, at the age of 12 years 298 days, she set a new best in the 880 yards freestyle in Indianapolis. Seven years later she was the first woman to swim the English Channel.

1928: England and Gloucestershire cricketer Wally Hammond took 10 catches against Surrey at Cheltenham – a record for an outfielder in a first-class match.

1938: Henry Armstrong beat Lou Ambers on points to win the world lightweight title at New York and become the first boxer to hold three world titles simultaneously.

1988: Butch Reynolds broke Lee Evans' 20-year-old world 400 metres record with a time of 43.29 seconds – a time since bettered by Michael Johnson.

2000: Newcastle striker Duncan Ferguson completed his £3.75million return to Everton and Coventry paid £6.5million for Norwich's Wales striker Craig Bellamy.

2006: Former Arsenal star Kanu agreed a one-year deal with Portsmouth.

2008: Michael Phelps broke Mark Spitz's record of gold medals in an Olympic Games with his eighth gold in Beijing in the 4x100m medley relay.

2008: Great Britain enjoyed a day of great success at the Beijing Olympics. The Yngling sailing team of Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb, Pippa Wilson won gold, as did Ben Ainslie in the Finn class. Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter won a gold medal in the lightweight men's double sculls and Rebecca Romero became Olympic cycling champion in the women's individual pursuit.