In sports (especially in North America), a three-peat is winning three consecutive championships or tournaments. The term, a portmanteau of the words three and repeat, originated with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association, during their unsuccessful campaign for a third consecutive championship during the 1988–89 season, having won the previous two NBA finals.
Origin
The
Oxford English Dictionary credits an
Illinois high school senior, Sharif Ford, with the earliest published use of the word in the March 8, 1989, edition of the
St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Ford's quote uses the term in a sporting context and serves to provide a clear
etymology as well:
The Lincoln High Tigers say they want to "three-peat". "You know, kind of like repeat, except doing it for the third time", senior Sharif Ford said.
In a comedic context, the same play on words, additionally incorporating the name "Pete", is known to have been used as early as 1930 on the radio program Empire Builders. The episode of that program broadcast on December 29, 1930, featured a trio of singers dubbed "The Three Visiting Firemen: Pete, Re-Pete, and Three-Pete".[ radiomemories 23248 Wizzard Media]
Trademark
The term is a registered trademark owned by
Pat Riley, the Lakers' head coach from 1981 to 1990. The original owner and assignor of the underlying THREE-PEAT "mark" was Bijan Khezri, former president of P.d.P. Paperon De Paperoni, a Delaware corporation. Khezri submitted in November 1988 a
trademark application for the use of
three-peat on shirts, jackets and hats. Around that time, the phrase was being used by members and fans of the Los Angeles Lakers
basketball team, of whom Pat Riley was the head coach, regarding the Lakers' quest that season to obtain what would have been a third successive NBA championship. According to Riley, it was Laker player Byron Scott who cited the term in reference to the team's goal for that season.
After Khezri assigned the trademark to Riley, it remained an entity of Riley's company Riles & Co.. In 1989, Riles & Co. successfully registered the trademark under U.S. Registration Number 1552980. The Lakers did not win a third consecutive NBA championship in 1989, but the Chicago Bulls did in 1993, and Riles & Co. collected royalties from sports apparel makers who licensed the phrase for use on merchandise commemorating that accomplishment.
Riles & Co. subsequently obtained additional registrations expanding the trademark to cover many other kinds of merchandise in addition to apparel. The company then went on to reap additional profits by again licensing the phrase to merchandisers when the Bulls again won three consecutive NBA championships from 1996 through 1998, as well as when the New York Yankees won three straight World Series championships from 1998 through 2000 and when the Lakers won three straight NBA championships from 2000 through 2002. It was the Lakers' second three-peat in franchise history and only their first since moving from Minneapolis. As of 2025, the Lakers are the last team of the four major American professional sports (NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA) to achieve a three-peat. Incidentally, Pat Riley was the head coach of the losing teams (New York Knicks in 1992 and 1993, Miami Heat in 1996 and 1997) that were eliminated by the Bulls during their 1991-93 and 1996-98 three-peats of NBA Championships. Phil Jackson was the head coach of the Bulls for both of these three-peats, and serving in that same capacity for the Lakers when they achieved their second three-peat.
While originating in the United States, the three-peat has been replicated all over the world across different sports. In recent times, Spanish association football club Real Madrid notably became the first club of the modern era to win three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles (2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017–18). The American Rugby club the New England free jacks would become the first team to win three consecutive MLR titles (2023, 2024, 2025). They would also be the first North American team to complete a three peat since 2002.
The trademark registration for three-peat has been challenged over the years by those who argue that the term has become too generic in its usage for the trademark to continue to be applicable. However, such arguments have yet to succeed, with the registration continuing to be upheld by the United States Patent and Trademark Office as recently as 2001, in the case of Christopher Wade v. Riles & Co. This challenge documented the transfer of assignment from Khezri to Riles & Co., and upheld the validity of the trademark as originally conceived.
In 2005, a group of individuals attempted to trademark the phrase Three-Pete in anticipation of the (ultimately unsuccessful) attempt that year by the 2005 USC Trojans football team to win a third consecutive national championship. The change in spelling was a reference to the team's head coach Pete Carroll. However, the Patent Office ruled that the change in spelling was not dissimilar enough from Riles & Co.'s three-peat, and denied the registration. Later that year, USC fan Kyle Bunch began selling his own "Three-Pete" T-shirts. He discontinued sales once he was notified that he was infringing upon the Riles & Co. trademark.
Three-peats in North American leagues/championships
There have been numerous instances of teams winning three or more consecutive championships in the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, National Football League, and Australian Football League, most of which occurred prior to the advent of the term
three-peat.
North America: professional sports
All-America Football Conference
Arena Football League
American Hockey League
-
1960–1962 Springfield Indians
Champ Car World Series
-
2004–2007 Sébastien Bourdais (4-peat)
Continental Basketball Association
-
1985–1987 Tampa Bay/Rapid City Thrillers
echl">
ECHL
-
2022–2024 Florida Everblades
Formula Drift
IZOD IndyCar Series
Major Indoor Soccer League
-
1979–1982 New York Arrows (4-peat)
-
1988–1992 San Diego Sockers (5-peat)
Major League Baseball (World Series)
-
1936–1939 New York Yankees (4-peat)
-
1949–1953 New York Yankees (5-peat)
-
1972–1974 Oakland Athletics
-
1998–2000 New York Yankees
NASCAR Cup Series
National Basketball Association (NBA Finals)
National Football League (NFL champions)
-
1929–1931 Green Bay Packers (no post-season; title game began in 1933)
-
1965–1967 Green Bay Packers (won 1965, 1966, and 1967 title games, plus Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II)
National Hockey League (Stanley Cup Finals)
-
1947–1949 Toronto Maple Leafs
-
1956–1960 Montreal Canadiens (5-peat)
-
1962–1964 Toronto Maple Leafs
-
1976–1979 Montreal Canadiens (4-peat)
-
1980–1983 New York Islanders (4-peat)
Premier Hockey Federation (Isobel Cup)
-
2020–2022 Boston Pride (2020 co-champions with Minnesota Whitecaps)
Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA Finals)
U.S. Open Cup
-
1965–1967 Greek American Atlas
-
2009–2011 Seattle Sounders FC
United Football League
-
2022–2024 Birmingham Stallions
United States: College Sports
NACDA Director's Cup (overall collegiate athletics)
-
1995–2018 Stanford (NCAA Division I) (23-peat)
-
1997–2001 Simon Fraser (NAIA) (5-peat)
-
1999–2011 Williams College (NCAA Division III) (12-peat)
-
2000–2003 UC Davis (NCAA Division II) (4-peat)
-
2004–2011 Grand Valley State (NCAA Division II) (8-peat)
-
2005–2011 Azusa Pacific (NAIA) (7-peat)
NAIA National Football Championship
-
2002–2005 Carroll College Fighting Saints (4-peat)
NAIA National Basketball Championship
-
1957–1959 Tennessee State Tigers basketball
-
1970–1972 Kentucky State Thorobreds
NCAA Division I Baseball
NCAA Division I Softball
-
1988–1990 UCLA
-
2021–2024 Oklahoma (4-peat)
NCAA Division I Men's Volleyball
-
1970-1972 UCLA
-
1974-1976 UCLA
-
1981-1984 UCLA (4-peat)
NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball
-
2007-2010 Penn State (4-peat)
NCAA Division I Football
- Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
- *1934–1936 Minnesota (Toledo Cup)
- *1944–1946 Army West Point
- Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)
- *2005–2007 Appalachian State University
- *2011–2015 North Dakota State University (5-peat)
- *2017–2019 North Dakota State University
NCAA Division I Men's Basketball
NCAA Division I Men's Water Polo
NCAA Division I Women's Basketball
-
1996–1998 Tennessee
-
2002–2004 Connecticut
-
2013–2016 Connecticut (4-peat)
NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country
-
1944–1946 Drake Bulldogs
-
1966–1968 Villanova
-
1978–1981 UTEP Miners (4-peat)
-
1990–1993 Arkansas (4-peat)
-
1998–2000 Arkansas
-
2016–2018 Northern Arizona
-
2020–2022 Northern Arizona
NCAA Division II Women's Basketball
-
1993–1996 North Dakota State Bison (4-peat)
-
1997–1999 North Dakota Fighting Sioux
NCAA Division III Women's Basketball
-
1998–2001 Washington (4-peat)
NCAA Division I Women's Soccer
-
1982–1984 North Carolina
-
1986–1994 North Carolina (9-peat)
NCAA Division II Football Championship
NCAA Division III Football
-
1983–1986 Augustana College (Illinois) (4-peat)
-
1996–1998 Mount Union
-
2000–2002 Mount Union
-
2009–2011 Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks
U.S. National Collegiate Club Rugby championships
-
1980–1983 California (4-peat)
-
1999–2002 California (4-peat)
-
2004–2008 California (5-peat)
-
2012–2014 BYU
United States: tabletop games
Warhammer 40k American Team Championships
United States: marching arts
-
The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps won the Drum Corps International World Championship in 1983–1985.
-
The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps three-peated 2000–2002 (2000 was a tie with the Cadets).
-
The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps won the Drum Corps International World Championships in 2019–2023 (2020 and 2021 were not scored due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
Three-peats in domestic leagues/championships
Australian Football
Australia
West Australian Football League
-
1908–1911 East Fremantle
-
1919–1923 East Perth
-
1928–1931 East Fremantle
-
1938–1940 Claremont
-
1952–1954 South Fremantle
-
1961–1963 Swan Districts
-
1966–1968 Perth
-
1982–1984 Swan Districts
-
2000–2002 East Perth
-
2006–2008 Subiaco
AFL
-
1906–1908 Carlton Football Club
-
1927–1930 (4-peat) Collingwood Football Club
-
1939–1941 Melbourne Football Club
-
1955–1957 Melbourne Football Club
-
2001–2003 Brisbane Lions
-
2013–2015 Hawthorn
Germany
Australian Football League Germany
American Football
Costa Rica
Costa Rica, American Football 1st Division:
-
2010–2012 Santa Ana Bulldogs
Association Football
Argentina
First Division (association football)
-
1949–1951 Racing Club
-
1955–1957 River Plate
-
Metro 1979–Metro 1980 River Plate
-
Apertura 1996–Apertura 1997 River Plate
Belgium
Belgian Pro League
-
1900–1903 Racing de Bruxelles
-
1904–1907 R Union Saint-Gilloise
-
1924–1926 Beerschot
-
1933–1935 R Union Saint-Gilloise SR
-
1949–1951 RSC Anderlechtois
-
1954–1956 RSC Anderlechtois
-
1964–1968 RSC Anderlechtois (5-peat)
-
1969–1971 R Standard Liège
-
1976–1978 Club Brugge
-
1985–1987 Anderlecht
-
1993–1995 Anderlecht
-
2012–2014 Anderlecht
-
2020–2022 Club Brugge
Brazil
Brazilian Championship
Bulgaria
Bulgarian
A PFG
Chile
First Division (Association football):
-
1933–1935 Magallanes
-
1989–1991 Colo-Colo
-
Apertura 2006–Apertura 2007 Colo-Colo (4-peat)
-
Apertura 2011–Apertura 2012 Universidad de Chile
-
2018–2021 Club Deportivo Universidad Católica (4-peat)
Croatia
Croatian Football League
-
1996–1999 Croatia Zagreb (4-peat)
-
2006–2016 Dinamo Zagreb (11-peat)
-
2018–2024 Dinamo Zagreb (7-peat)
Denmark
Danish Superliga
Egypt
Egyptian Premier League
-
1949–1959 Al Ahly (9-peat)
-
1975–1977 Al Ahly
-
1979–1982 Al Ahly (4-peat)
-
1985–1987 Al Ahly
-
1994–2000 Al Ahly (7-peat)
-
2005–2014 Al Ahly (8-peat)
-
2016–2020 Al Ahly (5-peat)
Egypt Cup
-
1945–1947 Al Ahly
-
1949–1951 Al Ahly
-
1957–1960 Zamalek SC (4-peat)
-
1981–1985 Al Ahly (4-peat)
-
1991–1993 Al Ahly
-
2013–2016 Zamalek SC (4-peat)
Egyptian Super Cup
-
2006–2009 Al Ahly (4-peat)
-
2011–2016 Al Ahly (4-peat)
-
2022–2024 Al Ahly
England
English football First Tier
-
1924–1926 Huddersfield Town
-
1933–1935 Arsenal
-
1982–1984 Liverpool
-
1999–2001 Manchester United
-
2007–2009 Manchester United
-
2021–2024 Manchester City (4-peat)
FA Cup
-
1876–1878 Wanderers
-
1884–1886 Blackburn Rovers
EFL Cup
-
1981–1984 Liverpool (4-peat)
-
2018–2021 Manchester City (4-peat)
FA Charity/Community Shield
-
1964–1966 Liverpool
-
1984–1987 Everton (4-peat)
-
1988–1990 Liverpool
Finland
Veikkausliiga
-
1998–2000 FC Haka
-
2009–2014 HJK (6-peat)
-
2020–2023 HJK (4-peat)
France
Ligue 1
-
1902–1904 RC Roubaix
-
1967–1970 Saint-Étienne (4-peat)
-
1974–1976 Saint-Étienne
-
1989–1992 Marseille (4-peat)
-
2002–2008 Lyon (7-peat)
-
2013–2016 Paris Saint-Germain (4-peat)
-
2018–2020 Paris Saint-Germain
-
2022–2025 Paris Saint-Germain (4-peat)
Germany
Bundesliga
-
1972–1974 Bayern Munich
-
1975–1977 Borussia Mönchengladbach
-
1985–1987 Bayern Munich
-
1999–2001 Bayern Munich
-
2013–2023 Bayern Munich (11-peat)
DDR-Oberliga
Iran
Persian Gulf League
-
2016–2021 Persepolis (5-peat)
Iran Super Cup
2017–2020 Persepolis (4-peat)
Iraq
Iraq Stars League
Iraq FA Cup
Umm al-Ma'arik Championship
Iraqi Super Cup
Iraq Central FA Premier League
-
1950–1956 Al-Haras Al-Malaki (7-peat)
-
1968–1970 Aliyat Al-Shorta
Israel
Liga Leumit
-
1959–1963 Hapoel Petah Tikva (5-peat)
Israeli Premier League
-
2004–2006 Maccabi Haifa
-
2013–2015 Maccabi Tel Aviv
-
2016–2018 Hapoel Be'er Sheva
-
2021–2023 Maccabi Haifa
Italy
Italian Football Championship
-
1898–1900 Genoa
-
1902–1904 Genoa
-
1911–1913 Pro Vercelli
Serie A
Coppa Italia
Japan
J1 League
Mexico
Liga MX
Netherlands
Eredivisie
Norway
Tippeligaen
Philippines
National Men's Championship
-
1915–1922: Bohemian Sporting Club (7-peat, no tournament held on 1919)
-
1930–1933: San Beda Athletic Club
PFL
-
2017–2020: Ceres–Negros/United City (4-peat)
Portugal
Primeira Liga
-
1936–1938 Benfica
-
1947–1949 Sporting CP
-
1951–1954 Sporting CP (4-peat)
-
1963–1965 Benfica
-
1967–1969 Benfica
-
1971–1973 Benfica
-
1975–1977 Benfica
-
1995–1999 FC Porto (5-peat)
-
2006–2009 FC Porto (4-peat)
-
2011–2013 FC Porto
-
2014–2017 Benfica (4-peat)
Russia
Russian Football Premier League
-
1992–1994 Spartak Moscow
-
1996–2001 Spartak Moscow (6-peat)
-
2019–2024 Zenit Saint Petersburg (6-peat)
Scotland
Scottish football league system first tier
-
1966–1974 Celtic (9-peat)
-
1989–1997 Rangers (9-peat)
-
2012–2020 Celtic (9-peat)
-
2022–2025 Celtic (4-peat)
Scottish Cup
-
1874–1876 Queen's Park
-
1877–1879 Vale of Leven
-
1880–1882 Queen's Park
-
1934–1936 Rangers
-
1948–1950 Rangers
-
1962–1964 Rangers
-
1982–1984 Aberdeen
-
2017–2020 Celtic (4-peat)
Serbia
Serbian SuperLiga
-
2008–2013 FK Partizan (6-peat)
-
2018–2024 Red Star Belgrade (7-peat)
Slovenia
Slovenian PrvaLiga
Spain
La Liga
-
1961–1965 Real Madrid (5-peat)
-
1967–1969 Real Madrid
-
1978–1980 Real Madrid
-
1986–1990 Real Madrid (5-peat)
-
1991–1994 FC Barcelona (4-peat)
-
2009–2011 FC Barcelona
Copa del Rey
South Africa
South African Premier Division
-
1998–2000 Mamelodi Sundowns
-
2008–2010 Supersport United
-
2018–2023 Mamelodi Sundowns (6-peat)
South Korea
K League 1
-
1993–1995 Ilhwa Chunma (changed to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma)
-
2001–2003 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (changed to Seongnam FC)
-
2017–2021 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (5-peat)
Sweden
Allsvenskan
-
1945–1948 IFK Norrköping
-
1949–1951 Malmö FF
-
1985–1989 Malmö FF
-
1993–1996 IFK Göteborg
Turkey
Süper Lig
-
1971–1973 Galatasaray
-
1979–1981 Trabzonspor
-
1990–1992 Beşiktaş
-
1997–2000 Galatasaray (4-peat)
USSR
Soviet Top League
-
1946–1948 CSKA Moscow
-
1966–1968 Dynamo Kyiv
United Arab Emirates
UAE Pro League
Yugoslavia
Yugoslav First League
Baseball
Puerto Rico
Baseball
-
1941/42–1944/45 Ponce (4-peat)
-
1996/97–1998/99 Indios de Mayaguez
Japan
Nippon Professional Baseball
South Korea
KBO League
Basketball
Argentina
Liga Nacional de Básquet
-
2010–2012 Club Atlético Peñarol (Mar del Plata)
-
2015–2018 San Lorenzo de Almagro (basketball) (4-peat)
Czech Republic
Czech National Basketball League:
France
LNB Pro A
Germany
Basketball Bundesliga
-
1970–1972 TuS 04 Leverkusen
-
1990–1996 TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen
-
1997–2003 ALBA Berlin (7-peat)
-
2010–2013 Brose Baskets (4-peat, also won the German Cup in 2010, 2011 and 2012)
-
2020–2022 ALBA Berlin
Iraq
Iraqi Professional Basketball League
Iraqi Basketball Perseverance Cup
Israel
Israeli Basketball Premier League
-
1957–1959 Maccabi Tel Aviv
-
1962–1964 Maccabi Tel Aviv
-
1970–1992 Maccabi Tel Aviv (23-peat)
-
1994–2007 Maccabi Tel Aviv (14-peat)
-
2018–2021 Maccabi Tel Aviv (4-peat)
Italy
Lega Basket Serie A
Philippines
In the Philippines, a similar concept of a grand slam, winning all 3 conferences (tournaments) in sequence in a single season exists. Leagues such as the PBA, PVL, and formerly PBL and MICAA had used this format.
A conventional definition of three peat, winning a conference championship in three or more consecutive seasons, can also be applied:
PBA
-
1977–1979: Toyota Tamaraws (Invitational Championship)
-
1979–1984: Crispa Redmanizers (4 peat, All-Filipino Conference, no tournament held from 1981–1982)
-
1987–1989: San Miguel Beer (Reinforced Conference)
-
1994–1997: Alaska Milkmen (4-peat, Governors' Cup)
-
2011–2013: Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters (Philippine Cup)
-
2015–2019: San Miguel Beermen (5-peat, Philippine Cup)
PBA D-League
-
2011–2013: NLEX Road Warriors (Aspirants' Cup)
-
2022–2024: EcoOil–De La Salle (Aspirants' Cup)
Puerto Rico
BSN basketball
-
1941–1943 Atléticos de San Germán
-
1947–1950 Atléticos de San Germán (4-peat)
-
1955–1957 Cardenales de Rio Piedras
-
1964–1966 Leones de Ponce
-
1971–1975 Vaqueros de Bayamon (5-peat)
-
1977–1979 Piratas de Quebradillas
-
1998–2001 Cangrejeros de Santurce (4-peat)
Russia
Russian Basketball Super League 1 (1992–2010)
-
1992–2000 PBC CSKA Moscow (9-peat)
-
2003–2010 PBC CSKA Moscow (8-peat)
Russian Professional Basketball League
-
2011–2013 PBC CSKA Moscow (2011–2013)
VTB United League
-
2012–2019, 2021 PBC CSKA Moscow (9-peat; the 2019–2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
Russian Women's Basketball Premier League
-
1992–1997 WBC CSKA Moscow (6-peat)
-
1998–2001 WBC Dynamo Moscow (4-peat)
-
2004–2006 VBM-SGAU Samara
-
2009–2021 UMMC Ekaterinburg (13-peat)
-
2023–2025 UMMC Ekaterinburg
Slovenia
Premier A Slovenian Basketball League
Spain
Liga ACB
-
1960–1966 Real Madrid Baloncesto (7-peat)
-
1968–1977 Real Madrid Baloncesto (10-peat)
-
1984–1986 Real Madrid Baloncesto
-
1987–1990 Barcelona (4-peat)
-
1995–1997 Barcelona
Spanish Cup
-
1945–1947 Barcelona
-
1978–1983 Barcelona (6-peat)
Spanish Super Cup
-
2019–2022 Barcelona (4-peat)
Switzerland
Swiss Basketball League
Turkey
Basketball Super League
-
1970–1973 İTÜ BK
-
1976–1978 Eczacıbaşı
-
1980–1982 Eczacıbaşı
-
1992–1994 Efes Pilsen
-
2001–2004 Efes Pilsen (4-peat)
-
2016–2018 Fenerbahçe
Vietnam
VBA
-
2019–2022 Saigon Heat (three-peat: 2019, 2020, 2022)
Canadian Football
Canada
Football Canada (pre 1958) / Canadian Football League (post 1958) (
Grey Cup):
Collegiate women's basketball
-
2011–2015 Windsor Lancers (5-peat)
Cricket
Australia
Queensland Premier Cricket T20
-
2016–2018 Sandgate-Redcliffe Gators (T20 QLD)
India
Indian cricket's
Ranji Trophy
New Zealand
New Zealand cricket's
Plunket Shield
Futsal
Brazil
Taça Brasil de Futsal
-
2003–2008 Malwee/Jaraguá (6-peat)
Iraq
Iraqi Futsal Premier League
-
2012–2018 Naft Al-Wasat (7-peat)
Portugal
Campeonato Nacional de Futsal
-
1993–1995 Sporting CP
-
2007–2009 Benfica
-
2016–2018 Sporting CP
-
2021–2024 Sporting CP (4-peat)
Taça de Portugal de Futsal
-
2017–2022 Sporting CP (4-peat) (2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22)
Taça da Liga de Futsal
Russia
Russian Futsal Super League
-
1992–2000 Dina (futsal club) (9-peat)
-
2003–2008 MFK Dinamo Moskva (6-peat; before 2007/08 season renamed into Dinamo-Yamal)
-
2011–2013 MFK Dinamo Moskva (before 2012/13 season renamed into Dinamo Moscow Oblast)
Russian Futsal Cup
-
1995–1999 Dina (futsal club) (5-peat)
-
2008–2011 MFK Dinamo Moskva (4-peat)
-
2013–2015 MFK Dinamo Moskva
Spain
Primera División de Futsal
-
2002–2005 Inter FS (4-peat)
-
2011–2013 Barcelona
-
2014–2018 Inter FS (5-peat)
-
2021–2023 Barcelona
Copa de España de Futsal
Copa del Rey de Futsal
-
2011–2014 Barcelona (4-peat)
-
2018–2020 Barcelona
Supercopa de España de Futsal
Gaelic football
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
Handball
Iraq
Iraqi Handball Premier League
Slovenia
Slovenian First League of Handball
Russia
Russian Handball Super League
-
1996–1999 Kaustik Volgograd (4-peat)
-
2002–2022 Chekhovskiye Medvedi (21-peat)
Spain
Liga ASOBAL
-
1956–1961 BM Granollers (6-peat)
-
1962–1965 Atlético Madrid BM (4-peat)
-
1966–1968 BM Granollers
-
1970–1972 BM Granollers
-
1975–1978 CB Alicante (4-peat)
-
1983–1985 Atlético Madrid BM
-
1988–1992 FC Barcelona Handbol (5-peat)
-
1995–2000 FC Barcelona Handbol (5-peat)
-
2007–2010 BM Ciudad Real (4-peat)
-
2011–2023 FC Barcelona Handbol (13-peat)
Copa del Rey
-
1982–1985 FC Barcelona Handbol
-
2013–2023 FC Barcelona Handbol (10-peat)
Hurling
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
National Hurling League
Ice Hockey
Australia
Australian Ice Hockey League
USSR
Soviet Championship League
-
1948–1950 CSKA Moscow
-
1951–1953 VVS Moscow
-
1958–1961 CSKA Moscow (4-peat)
-
1963–1966 CSKA Moscow (4-peat)
-
1970–1973 CSKA Moscow (4-peat)
-
1977–1989 CSKA Moscow (13-peat)
-
1990–1992 Dynamo Moscow
Rugby Union
Australia & New Zealand
Super Rugby
-
2017–2019 Christchurch Crusaders
England
Men's Premiership Rugby
Premiership Women's Rugby
-
2023–2025 Gloucester–Hartpury
Women's Premiership
Rugby League
Australia & New Zealand
New South Wales Rugby Football League/Australian Rugby League/National Rugby League
England
Northern Rugby Football Union/Northern Rugby Football League/Rugby Football League/
Super League
Volleyball
Philippines
PVL
-
2022–2024: Creamline Cool Smashers (4-peat, All-Filipino, 2023 season had two All-Filipino conferences)
South Korea
V-League
-
2008–2014 Daejeon Samsung Fire Bluefangs (7-peat)
Three-peats in continental and international championships
Olympics
[[Summer Olympics/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: summer_olympic">
<hr class="us2411627114">
<span class="us654509567 us1353177739">[[Summer Olympics">summer_olympic">
[[Summer Olympics
Athletics
-
1956, 1960, 1964, 1968 Al Oerter, Men's Discus throw (4-peat)
-
1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 Carl Lewis, Men's Long jump (4-peat)
-
1992, 1996, 2000 / Jan Železný, Men's Javelin throw
-
2008, 2012, 2016 Usain Bolt, Men's 100m
-
2008, 2012, 2016 Usain Bolt, Men's 200m
-
2012, 2016, 2020 Anita Włodarczyk, Women's Hammer throw
-
2016, 2020, 2024 Nafissatou Thiam, Women's Heptathlon
Basketball
-
1936–1968 USA, Men's Basketball tournament (7-peat)
-
1992–2000 USA, Men's Basketball tournament
-
1996–2024 USA, Women's Basketball tournament (8-peat)
-
2008–2024 USA, Men's Basketball tournament (5-peat)
Equestrian
-
2000, 2004, 2008 Anky van Grunsven, individual dressage
Fencing
-
2012, 2016, 2020 Áron Szilágyi, individual men's sabre
Field Hockey
-
1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956 / India, Men's Field Hockey tournament (6-peat)
Football
-
2004, 2008, 2012 USA, Women's Football tournament
Handball
-
1996, 2000, 2004 Denmark, Women's Handball tournament
Sailing
Shooting
Swimming
-
1956, 1960, 1964 Dawn Fraser, Women's 100 metres freestyle
-
1988, 1992, 1996 Krisztina Egerszegi, Women's 200 metres backstroke
-
2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 Michael Phelps, Men's 200-metre individual medley (4-peat)
-
2012, 2016, 2020, 2024 Katie Ledecky, Women's 800 metres freestyle (4-peat)
Volleyball
-
1992, 1996, 2000 Cuba, Women's Volleyball tournament
Water polo
-
1908, 1912, 1920 Great Britain, Men's Water polo tournament
-
2000, 2004, 2008 Hungary, Men's Water polo tournament
-
2012, 2016, 2020 USA, Women's Water polo tournament
-
2016, 2020, 2024 Serbia, Men's Water polo tournament
[[Winter Olympics/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: winter_olympic">
<hr class="us2411627114">
<span class="us654509567 us1353177739">[[Winter Olympics">winter_olympic">
[[Winter Olympics
Curling
-
2006, 2010, 2014 Canada, Men's Curling tournament
Ice Hockey
-
1920, 1924, 1928, 1932 Canada, Men's Ice Hockey tournament (4-peat)
-
1964, 1968, 1972, 1976 Soviet Union, Men's Ice Hockey tournament (4-peat)
-
2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 Canada, Women's Ice Hockey tournament (4-peat)
3 Peat 1984-1987-1991 Canada Cup
Chess
World Chess Championships
Unofficial Championships (before 1886)
Pre-FIDE World Championships (1886–1946)
FIDE World Championships (2006–present)
-
2007–2012 Viswanathan Anand (4-peat)
-
2013–2021 Magnus Carlsen (5-peat)
Women's World Chess Championships
-
1927–1939 / Vera Menchik (9-peat)
-
1962–1975 Nona Gaprindashvili (5-peat)
-
1978–1988 Maia Chiburdanidze (5-peat; she tied her 1981 title match but retained the title according to the rules; otherwise it would be a three-peat (1984–1988))
-
2018–2025 Ju Wenjun (5-peat)
Association Football
|
Men
FIFA Confederations Cup
AFC Asian Cup
Africa Cup of Nations
CONCACAF Gold Cup
CONCACAF Nations League
CONMEBOL Copa América
Arab Cup
Arabian Gulf Cup
-
1970–1976 Kuwait (4-peat)
| Men
FIFA Club World Cup
UEFA Champions League
-
1956–1960 Real Madrid (5-peat)
-
1971–1973 AFC Ajax
-
1974–1976 Bayern Munich
-
2016–2018 Real Madrid
UEFA Europa League
CONCACAF Champions League
CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores
-
1968–1970 Estudiantes de La Plata
-
1972–1975 Independiente (4-peat)
CAF Cup
African Cup Winners' Cup
AFC Cup
-
2016–2018 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
OFC Champions League
-
2011–2017 Auckland City (7-peat)
-
2022–2024 Auckland City
Arab Club Champions Cup
Arab Cup Winners' Cup
|
Athletics
World Athletics Championships
-
1983, 1987, 1991 Carl Lewis, Men's 100m
-
1997, 1999, 2001 Maurice Greene, Men's 100m
-
2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 Usain Bolt, Men's 200m (4-peat)
-
2019, 2022, 2023 Noah Lyles, Men's 200m
-
2005, 2007, 2009 Allyson Felix, Women's 200m
-
1993, 1995, 1997, 1999 Michael Johnson, Men's 400m (4-peat)
-
1995, 1997, 1999 Wilson Kipketer, Men's 800m
-
1991, 1993, 1995 Noureddine Morceli, Men's 1500m
-
1997, 1999, 2001, 2003 Hicham El Guerrouj, Men's 1500m (4-peat)
-
2011, 2013, 2015 Asbel Kiprop, Men's 1500m
-
2011, 2013, 2015 Mo Farah, Men's 5000m
-
1993, 1995, 1997, 1999 Haile Gebrselassie, Men's 10000m (4-peat)
-
2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 Kenenisa Bekele, Men's 10000m (4-peat)
-
2013, 2015, 2017 Mo Farah, Men's 10000m
-
2019, 2022, 2023 Joshua Cheptegei, Men's 10000m
-
1983, 1987, 1991 Greg Foster, Men's 110m hurdles
-
2019, 2022, 2023 Grant Holloway, Men's 110m hurdles
-
1991, 1993, 1995 Moses Kiptanui, Men's 3000m steeplechase
-
2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 Ezekiel Kemboi, Men's 3000m steeplechase (4-peat)
-
1983, 1987, 1991, 1993 United States of America, Men's 4 × 100 m relay (4-peat)
-
2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 Jamaica, Men's 4 × 100 m relay (4-peat)
-
2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 United States of America, Men's 4 × 400 m relay (6-peat)
-
2019, 2022, 2023 United States of America, Men's 4 × 400 m relay
-
2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 United States of America, Women's 4 × 400 m relay (4-peat)
-
2017, 2019, 2022 United States of America, Women's 4 × 400 m relay
-
2017, 2019, 2022 Mutaz Essa Barshim, Men's High jump
-
2015, 2017, 2019 Mariya Lasitskene, Women's High jump
-
1983, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 / Sergey Bubka, Men's Pole vault (6-peat)
-
1995, 1997, 1999, 2001 Ivan Pedroso, Men's Long jump (4-peat)
-
2015, 2017, 2019 Brittney Reese, Women's Long jump
-
2015, 2017, 1999 Christian Taylor, Men's Triple jump
-
2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 Yulimar Rojas, Women's Triple jump (4-peat)
-
1987, 1991, 1993 Werner Gunthor, Men's Shot put
-
1995, 1997, 1999 Astrid Kumbernuss, Women's Shot put
-
2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 Valerie Adams, Women's Shot put (4-peat)
-
1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 Lars Riedel, Men's Discus throw (4-peat)
-
2009, 2011, 2013 Robert Harting, Men's Discus throw
-
2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022 Pawel Fajdek, Men's Hammer throw (5-peat)
-
2001, 2003, 2005 Yipsi Moreno, Women's Hammer throw
-
2013, 2015, 2017 Anita Wlodarczyk, Women's Hammer throw
-
1991, 1993, 1995 Dan O'Brien, Men's Decathlon
-
1997, 1999, 2001 Tomas Dvorak, Men's Decathlon
-
2003, 2005, 2007 Carolina Kluft, Men's Heptathlon
Cricket
Cricket World Cup
-
1999–2007 Australia (ICC ODI World Cup every 4 years)
ICC Women's T20 World Cup
-
2010–2014 Australia
-
2018–2023 Australia
Darts
BDO World Darts Championship
PDC World Darts Championship
-
1995–2002 Phil Taylor (8-peat)
-
2004–2006 Phil Taylor
Gary Anderson could have made a three-peat in 2015–2017 but lost 7–3 to Michael van Gerwen in the final of the 2017 World darts championship.
BDO Women's World Darts Championship
Esports
Counter Strike
-
2010–2011 Natus Vincere (4-peat: Intel Extreme Masters 2010, ESWC 2010, WCG 2010, and Intel Extreme Masters 2011)
-
2018–2019 Astralis (, IEM Katowice Major 2019, )
Competitive eating
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
Men
-
1988-1990 Jay Green (1990 tied with Mike DeVito)
-
1993-1994 Mike DeVito (1993 Independence Day, 1993 One-on-one Challenge with Japan, 1994 Independence Day)
-
1996-1998 Hirofumi Nakajima (1996 One-on-one Challenge with Japan, 1997 and 1998 Independence Day)
-
2001-2006 Takeru Kobayashi (6-peat)
-
2007-2014 Joey Chestnut (8-peat)
-
2016-2023 Joey Chestnut (8-peat)
Women
Nathan's Famous Lemonade Chug Contest
-
2021-2024 Eric "Badlands" Booker (4-peat)
Futsal
FIFA Futsal World Cup
-
1989, 1992, 1996 / Brazil
UEFA Futsal Championship
-
2005, 2007, 2010, 2013 Spain (4-peat)
Intercontinental Futsal Cup
-
2005–2008, 2011 Boomerang Interviú/Interviú Fadesa/Inter Movistar (5-peat)
-
2016, 2018–2019 Magnus Futsal
UEFA Futsal Champions League
South American Futsal Championship / Copa Libertadores de Futsal
-
2004–2009 Jaraguá (6-peat)
-
2017–2019 Carlos Barbosa
Golf
US Open
-
1903–1905 Willie Anderson
The Open Championship
-
1868–1872 Young Tom Morris (4-peat)
-
1877–1879 Jamie Anderson
-
1880–1882 Bob Ferguson
-
1954–1956 Peter Thomson
[[PGA Championship/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: pga_championsh">
<hr class="us2411627114">
<span class="us654509567 us1353177739">[[PGA Championship">pga_championsh">
[[PGA Championship
Handball
|
Men
IHF World Men's Handball Championship
-
2019–2025 Denmark (4-peat)
IHF World Men's Outdoor Handball Championship
European Men's Handball Championship
African Championship
-
1974–79 Tunisia
-
1981–1989 Algeria (5-peat)
-
2020–2024 Egypt
Women
IHF World Women's Handball Championship
-
1982–1990 Soviet Union
-
2005–2009 Russia
European Women's Handball Championship
-
2004–2010 Norway (4-peat)
| Men
IHF Super Globe
EHF Champions League
-
1995–2000 FC Barcelona Handbol (5-peat)
EHF European Cup
EHF Cup Winner's Cup
-
1983–1986 FC Barcelona Handbol
EHF Men's Champions Trophy
-
1996–2000 FC Barcelona Handbol (4-peat)
African Champions League
-
1979–1981 Zamalek
-
1997–2000 MC Alger (4-peat)
-
2003–2006 MC Alger (4-peat)
-
2017–2019 Zamalek
African Cup Winners' Cup
-
1991–1995 MC Alger (5-peat)
-
1997–1999 MC Alger
-
2009–2011 Zamalek
African Super Cup
-
1994–1999 MC Alger (6-peat)
-
2004–2006 MC Alger
-
2010–2012 Zamalek
-
2018–2021 Zamalek
-
2022–2024 Al Ahly
SEHA League
Women
Women's EHF Champions League
-
1970–1973 Spartak Kyiv (4-peat)
-
1985–1988 Spartak Kyiv (4-peat)
-
1992–1995 Hypo Niederösterreich (4-peat)
-
2017–2019 Győri Audi ETO KC
-
2021–2023 Vipers Kristiansand
|
International rules football
International Rules Series
-
1990–1999 (1990, 1998, 1999) Ireland
- International rules football games are held sporadically, hence the eight-year gap between 1990 and 1998.
Motorsports
Formula One World Drivers' Champion
Champ Car World Series auto racing
-
2004–2007 Sébastien Bourdais (4-peat)
Motorcycling
MotoGP
Motorboat racing
Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship
Rugby
Rugby Union
Women's Rugby World Cup
-
1998–2010 New Zealand (4-peat)
Rugby League
Rugby League World Cup
-
1975–2000 Australia (6-peat)
-
2013–2021 Australia
Women's Rugby League World Cup
-
2000–2008 New Zealand
-
2013–2021 Australia
Surfing
IPS World Circuit World Champion
ASP World Tour World Champion
ASP World Tour World Champion
Winter X Games
Winter X Games SuperPipe
Tennis
davis_cup">
Davis Cup
-
1903–1906 British Isles
-
1907–1911
[1910 competition was walked over.]
-
1920–1926 United States
-
1927–1932
-
1933–1936 Great Britain
-
1946–1949 United States
-
1950–1953 Australia
-
1955–1957 Australia
-
1959–1962 Australia
-
1964–1967 Australia
-
1968–1972
fed_cup">
Fed Cup
-
1976–1982
-
1983–1985 Czechoslovakia
-
1993–1995 Spain
[[Australian Open/" itemprop="url" title="Wiki: australian_ope">
<hr class="us2411627114">
<span class="us654509567 us1353177739">[[Australian Open">australian_ope">
[[Australian Open
Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
-
1923–1925 Sylvia Lance Harper (her partners were Esna Boyd Robertson in the 1923 tournament, and Daphne Akhurst Cozens in 1924–25)
-
1936–1940 Thelma Coyne Long and Nancye Wynne Bolton
-
1947–1949 Thelma Coyne Long and Nancye Wynne Bolton
-
1954–1956 Mary Bevis Hawton (her partners were Beryl Penrose in 1954–55, and Thelma Coyne Long in the 1956 tournament)
-
1961–1963 Margaret Court (her partners were Mary Carter Reitano in the 1961 tournament, and Robyn Ebbern in 1962–63)
-
1969–1971 Margaret Court (her partners were Judy Tegart Dalton in 1969–70, and Evonne Goolagong Cawley in the 1971 tournament)
-
1974–1976 Evonne Goolagong Cawley (her partners were Peggy Michel in 1974–75, and Helen Gourlay in the 1976 tournament)
-
1976–12/1977 Helen Gourlay (her partners were Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1976 and December 1977 (see above), and Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat in January 1977)
[The December 1977 title was shared with their final rivals.]
-
1982–1989 Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver (7-peat
[The Australian Open was not held during 1986 due to date changes.])
-
1997–1999 Martina Hingis (her partners were Natasha Zvereva in the 1997 tournament, Mirjana Lučić in 1998, and Anna Kournikova in 1999)
french_open">
French Open
Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
-
1909–1912 Jeanne Matthey and Daisy Speranza
-
1920–1923 Suzanne Lenglen (4-peat: her partners were Elisabeth d'Aryen in the 1920 tournament, Geramine Pigueron in 1921–22, and Didi Vasto in 1923)
-
1932–1934 Elizabeth Ryan (her partners were Helen Wills in the 1932 tournament, and Simonne Mathieu in 1933–34)
-
1936–1939 Simonne Mathieu (4-peat: her partners were Billie Yorke in 1936–38, and Jadwiga Jędrzejowska in the 1939 tournament)
-
1936–1938 Billie Yorke (her partner was Simonne Mathieu, see above)
-
1950–1953 Doris Hart and Shirley Fry Irvin
-
1961–1963 Renée Schuurman (her partners were Sandra Reynolds in 1961–62, and Ann Jones in the 1963 tournament)
-
1964–1966 Margaret Court (her partners were Lesley Turner Bowrey in 1964–65, and Judy Tegart in the 1966 tournament)
-
1967–1971 Françoise Dürr (5-peat: her partners were Gail Chanfreau in 1967 and 1970–71, and Ann Jones in 1967–68)
[This is a rare example of a three-peat across the Amateur and Open Eras.]
-
1984–1988 Martina Navratilova (5-peat: her partners were Pam Shriver in 1984–85 and 1987–88, and Andrea Temesvári in the 1986 tournament)
-
1991–1995 Gigi Fernández (5-peat: her partners were Jana Novotná in the 1991 tournament, and Natasha Zvereva in 1992–95)
-
1992–1995 Natasha Zvereva (4-peat: her partner was Gigi Fernández, see above)
Wimbledon
Gentlemen's singles
Ladies' singles
Gentlemen's doubles
Ladies' doubles
US Open
Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
-
1894–1898 Juliette Atkinson (5-peat: her partners were Helen Hellwig in 1894–95, Elisabeth Moore in the 1896 tournament, and Kathleen Atkinson in 1897–98)
-
1909–1911 Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman (her partners were Edith Rotch in 1909–10, and Eleonora Sears in the 1911 tournament)
-
1912–1914 Mary K. Browne (her partners were Dorothy Green in the 1912 tournament, and Louise Riddell Williams in 1913–14)
-
1915–1917 Eleonora Sears (her partners were Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman in the 1915 tournament, and Molla Mallory in 1916–17)
-
1918–1920 Marion Jessup and Eleanor Goss
-
1937–1941 Sarah Palfrey Cooke (5-peat: her partners were Alice Marble in 1937–40, and Margaret Osborne duPont in the 1941 tournament)
-
1937–1940 Alice Marble (4-peat: her partner was Sarah Palfrey Cooke, see above)
-
1941–1950 Margaret Osborne duPont (10-peat: her partners were Sarah Palfrey Cooke in the 1941 tournament (see above), and Louise Brough in 1942–50)
-
1942–1950 Louise Brough (9-peat: her partner was Margaret Osborne duPont, see above)
-
1951–1954 Shirley Fry Irvin and Doris Hart
-
1955–1957 Louise Brough and Margaret Osborne duPont
-
1958–1962 Darlene Hard (5-peat: her partners were Jeanne Arth in 1958–59, Maria Bueno in 1960 and 1962, and Lesley Turner Bowrey in the 1961 tournament)
-
2002–2004 Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez
ATP World Tour Finals
Singles
Doubles
wta_finals">
WTA Finals
Singles
Indian Wells Masters
Men's singles
Men's doubles
Miami Open
Men's singles
Women's singles
Men's doubles
Women's doubles
-
1995–1997 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (her partners were Jana Novotná in 1995 and 1996, and Natasha Zvereva in the 1997 tournament)
Monte Carlo Masters
Men's singles
Italian Open
Men's singles
Paris Masters
Men's singles
Dubai Championships
Men's singles
Barcelona Open
Men's singles
halle_open">
Halle Open
Men's singles
China Open
Men's singles
Swiss Indoors
Men's singles
National Football League
In the National Football League (NFL), a
Super Bowl championship three-peat has not been accomplished. Two-time defending Super Bowl champions who failed to three-peat include the Green Bay Packers (1968),
Miami Dolphins (1974), Pittsburgh Steelers (twice: 1976, 1980), San Francisco 49ers (1990),
Dallas Cowboys (1994),
Denver Broncos (1999), New England Patriots (2005), and Kansas City Chiefs (2024). The Chiefs became the first two-time defending Super Bowl champion to reach the Super Bowl, but lost Super Bowl LIX to the Philadelphia Eagles, the team they had previously defeated two years prior in Super Bowl LVII. The other eight teams failed to return to the title game in the third season (indicated in parentheses).
The Buffalo Bills went to 4 consecutive Super Bowls as the AFC champions from 1990 to 1993, which is a feat unmatched in NFL history; however, they lost in every appearance. The Miami Dolphins (1971-73), New England Patriots (2016-18), and Kansas City Chiefs (2022-24) have each won 3 consecutive Conference championships (and appeared in 3 straight Super Bowls) in their history.
In the early years of the NFL, decades before the introduction of either the term three-peat or the Super Bowl, the Packers won three consecutive NFL titles from 1929–31. This was achieved without playing any postseason playoff games, as the league title was determined at that time from the season standings. In addition, the Packers won the NFL championship in 1965, at a time when the rival NFL and AFL played separate exclusive championships. They then followed that 1965 championship with their first two Super Bowl victories in 1966 and 1967 (their Super Bowl berths were earned by winning both the 1966 NFL Championship Game and 1967 NFL Championship Game), thereby winning championships three years in a row.
Related terms
There have been efforts to come up with a similarly clever name for the potential fourth consecutive championship in the year following a three-peat.
Quat-row was trademarked by Lakers fan and graphic artist Jerry Leibowitz because he felt
four-peat "didn't make any sense phonetically",
though it's thus far failed to catch on and the latter continues to be the primary term. Since
three-peat came into usage, however, only one team in major American sports has been able to achieve at least four in a row: Hendrick Motorsports with driver
Jimmie Johnson, who won five NASCAR Cup Series championships in a row from 2006 to 2010.
Johnson's streak has been accordingly described as a
five-peat.
There are also terms for winning three trophies in the same season:
-
Triple Crown and Grand Slam – various sports
-
Treble (association football)
The trifecta (also known as a tricast, triactor or tierce) is a concept in gambling in which a bettor successfully guesses the win, place and show in a particular race.
Rather than three-peat, English-speaking people may instead talk of a hat trick of championships, or simply a three-in-a-row.