Three-peat
In sports, 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 Basketball Association">Basketball at the Summer Olympics">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".
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 to achieve a three-peat. Incidentally, Pat Riley was the head coach of the losing teams 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. The American Rugby club the New England free jacks would become the first team to win three consecutive MLR titles. 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 attempt that year by the USC Trojans football team">USC Trojans baseball">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, Football League">Football at the Summer Olympics">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]
- 1946–1949 Cleveland Browns ''''
[Arena Football League]
- 1988–1990 Detroit Drive
- 2012-2014 Arizona Rattlers
[American Hockey League]
- 1960–1962 Springfield Indians
[Champ Car World Series]
- 2004–2007 Sébastien Bourdais
[Continental Basketball Association]
- 1985–1987 Tampa Bay/Rapid City Thrillers
[ECHL]
- 2022–2024 Florida Everblades
[Formula Drift]
- 2017–2019 James Deane
[IndyCar Series]
- 2009–2011 Dario Franchitti
- 2023–2025 Álex Palou
Major Indoor Soccer League">Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992)">Major Indoor Soccer League
- 1979–1982 New York Arrows
- 1988–1992 San Diego Sockers
[Major League Baseball] ([World Series])
- 1936–1939 New York Yankees
- 1949–1953 New York Yankees
- 1972–1974 Oakland Athletics
- 1998–2000 New York Yankees
[Major League Rugby] (MLR Championship)
- 2022-2025 New England Free Jacks
[NASCAR Cup Series]
- 1976–1978 Cale Yarborough
- 2006–2010 Jimmie Johnson
[National Basketball Association] ([NBA Finals])
- 1952–1954 Minneapolis Lakers
- 1959–1966 Boston Celtics
- 1991–1993 Chicago Bulls
- 1996–1998 Chicago Bulls
- 2000–2002 Los Angeles Lakers
[National Football League] (NFL champions">List of NFL champions (1920–1969)">NFL champions)
- 1929–1931 Packers season|Green Bay Packers]
- 1965–1967 Green Bay Packers ''''
[National Hockey League] ([Stanley Cup Finals])
- 1947–1949 Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1956–1960 Montreal Canadiens
- 1962–1964 Toronto Maple Leafs
- 1976–1979 Montreal Canadiens
- 1980–1983 New York Islanders
[Premier Hockey Federation] ([Isobel Cup])
- 2020–2022 Boston Pride
- 1997–2000 Houston Comets
U.S. Open Cup">Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup">U.S. Open Cup
- 1965–1967 Greek American Atlas
- 2009–2011 Seattle Sounders FC
United Football League">United Football League (2024)">United Football League
- 2022–2024 Birmingham Stallions
United States: College Sports
NACDA Director's Cup- 1995–2018 Stanford
- 1997–2001 Simon Fraser
- 1999–2011 Williams
- 2000–2003 UC Davis
- 2004–2011 Grand Valley State
- 2005–2011 Azusa Pacific
- 2002–2005 Carroll College Fighting Saints
- 1957–1959 Tennessee State Tigers basketball
- 1970–1972 Kentucky State Thorobreds
- 1970–1974 USC
NCAA Division I Men's Volleyball
NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball
- 2007-2010 Penn State
NCAA Division I Men's Basketball
- 1967–1973 UCLA
- 2008–2013 USC
- 1996–1998 Tennessee
- 2002–2004 2003–04 Connecticut Huskies women's [basketball team|Connecticut]
- 2013–2016 Connecticut
- 1944–1946 Drake
- 1966–1968 Villanova
- 1978–1981 UTEP
- 1990–1993 Arkansas
- 1998–2000 Arkansas
- 2016–2018 Northern Arizona
- 2020–2022 Northern Arizona
- 1993–1996 North Dakota State Bison
- 1997–1999 North Dakota Fighting Sioux
- 1998–2001 Washington
- 1982–1984 North Carolina
- 1986–1994 North Carolina
- 1993–1995 North Alabama
- 1983–1986 Augustana College (Illinois)
- 1996–1998 Mount Union
- 2000–2002 Mount Union
- 2009–2011 Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks
- 1980–1983 California
- 1999–2002 California
- 2004–2008 California
- 2012–2014 BYU
United States: tabletop games
Warhammer 40k American Team Championships- Team Happy 2015–2017
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.
- The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps won the Drum Corps International World Championships in 2019–2023.
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
- 1906–1908 Carlton Football Club
- 1927–1930 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- 2007-2009 Rheinland Lions
- 2021-2023 Berlin Crocodiles
American Football
Costa Rica
Costa Rica, American Football 1st Division:- 2010-2012 Santa Ana Bulldogs
Association Football
Argentina
First Division- 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
- 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- 2006-2008 São Paulo FC
Bulgaria
Bulgarian A PFG- 1993-1995 Levski Sofia
- 2000-2002 Levski Sofia
Chile
First Division :- 1933–1935 Magallanes
- 1989–1991 Colo-Colo
- Apertura 2006–Apertura 2007 Colo-Colo
- Apertura 2011–Apertura 2012 Universidad de Chile
- 2018–2021 Club Deportivo Universidad Católica
Croatia
Croatian Football League- 1996-1999 Croatia Zagreb
- 2006-2016 Dinamo Zagreb
- 2018-2024 Dinamo Zagreb
Denmark
Danish Superliga- 2009-2011 Copenhagen
Egypt
Egyptian Premier League- 1949-1959 Al Ahly
- 1975–1977 Al Ahly
- 1979–1982 Al Ahly
- 1985–1987 Al Ahly
- 1994–2000 Al Ahly
- 2005–2014 Al Ahly
- 2016–2020 Al Ahly
- 1945–1947 Al Ahly
- 1949–1951 Al Ahly
- 1957–1960 Zamalek
- 1981–1985 Al Ahly
- 1991–1993 Al Ahly
- 2013–2016 Zamalek
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
- 1876–1878 Wanderers
- 1884–1886 Blackburn Rovers
- 1981–1984 Liverpool
- 2018–2021 Manchester City
Finland
VeikkausliigaFrance
Ligue 1- 1902-1904 Roubaix
- 1967-1970 Saint-Étienne
- 1974-1976 Saint-Étienne
- 1989-1992 Marseille
- 2002-2008 Lyon
- 2013-2016 Paris Saint-Germain
- 2018-2020 Paris Saint-Germain
- 2022-2025 Paris Saint-Germain
Germany
Bundesliga- 1972-1974 Bayern Munich
- 1975-1977 Borussia Mönchengladbach
- 1985-1987 Bayern Munich
- 1999-2001 Bayern Munich
- 2013-2023 Bayern Munich
- 1976-1978 SG Dynamo Dresden
- 1979-1988 Berliner FC Dynamo
Iran
Persian Gulf League- 2016-2021 Persepolis
- 2017-2020 Persepolis
Iraq
Iraq Stars League- 1987-1989 Al-Rasheed
- 1994-1996 Al-Zawraa
- 1999-2001 Al-Zawraa
- 2007-2009 Erbil
- 2022-2024 Al-Shorta
Umm al-Ma'arik Championship
- 2000-2002 Al-Shorta
- 1998-2000 Al-Zawraa
- 1950-1956 Al-Haras Al-Malaki
- 1968-1970 Aliyat Al-Shorta
Israel
Liga Leumit- 1959-1963 Hapoel Petah Tikva
- 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
- 1931-1935 Juventus
- 1943, 1946-1949 Torino
- 1992-1994 Milan
- 2006-2010 Internazionale
- 2012-2020 Juventus
- 2015-2018 Juventus
Japan
J1 League- 2007-2009 Kashima Antlers
Mexico
Liga MXNetherlands
Eredivisie- 1897-1899 RAP Amsterdam
- 1900-1903 HVV
- 1911-1913 Sparta
- 1966-1968 Ajax
- 1986-1989 PSV
- 1994-1996 Ajax
- 2005-2008 PSV
- 2011-2014 Ajax
Norway
TippeligaenPhilippines
National Men's Championship- 1915–1922: Bohemian Sporting Club
- 1930–1933: San Beda Athletic Club
- 2017–2020: Ceres–Negros/United City
Portugal
Primeira Liga- 1936-1938 Benfica
- 1947-1949 Sporting CP
- 1951-1954 Sporting CP
- 1963-1965 Benfica
- 1967-1969 Benfica
- 1971-1973 Benfica
- 1975-1977 Benfica
- 1995-1999 Porto
- 2006-2009 Porto
- 2011-2013 Porto
- 2014-2017 Benfica
Russia
Russian Football Premier League- 1992–1994 Spartak Moscow
- 1996–2001 Spartak Moscow
- 2019–2024 Zenit Saint Petersburg
Scotland
Scottish football league system first tierScottish 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
Serbia
Serbian SuperLiga- 2008-2013 Partizan
- 2018-2024 Red Star Belgrade
Slovenia
Slovenian PrvaLigaSpain
La Liga- 1961-1965 Real Madrid
- 1967-1969 Real Madrid
- 1978-1980 Real Madrid
- 1986-1990 Real Madrid
- 1991-1994 Barcelona
- 2009-2011 Barcelona
- 1905-1908 Real Madrid
- 1914-1916 Athletic Bilbao
- 1930-1933 Athletic Bilbao
- 1943-1945 Athletic Bilbao
- 1951-1953 Barcelona
- 2015-2018 Barcelona
South African Premier Division
- 1998–2000 Mamelodi Sundowns
- 2008–2010 Supersport United
- 2018–2023 Mamelodi Sundowns
South Korea
K League 1- 1993-1995 Ilhwa Chunma
- 2001-2003 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
- 2017-2021 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
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
USSR
Soviet Top League- 1946-1948 CSKA Moscow
- 1966-1968 Dynamo Kyiv
United Arab Emirates
UAE Pro League- 2001-2004 Al Ain
Yugoslavia
Yugoslav First League- 1933, 1935-36 BSK Beograd
- 1961-1963 Partizan
- 1968-1970 Red Star Belgrade
- 1990-1992 Red Star Belgrade
Baseball
Puerto Rico
Baseball- 1941/42-1944/45 Ponce
- 1996/97-1998/99 Indios de Mayaguez
Japan
Nippon Professional Baseball- 1951-1953 Yomiuri Giants
- 1956-1958 Nishitetsu Lions
- 1965-1973 Yomiuri Giants
- 1975-1977 Hankyu Braves
- 1986-1988 Seibu Lions
- 1990-1992 Seibu Lions
- 2017-2020 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
South Korea
KBO League- 1986-1989 Haitai Tigers
- 2011-2014 Samsung Lions
Taiwan
Chinese Professional Baseball League- 1992-1994 Brother Elephants
- 1997-1999 Wei Chuan Dragons
- 2001-2003 Brother Elephants
- 2007-2009 Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions
- 2017-2019 Lamigo Monkeys
Basketball
Argentina
Liga Nacional de Básquet- 2010–2012 Club Atlético Peñarol (Mar del Plata)
- 2015–2018 San Lorenzo de Almagro (basketball)
Czech Republic
Czech National Basketball League:- 1994–1996 Basket Brno
- 2004–2022 ERA Nymburk
France
LNB Pro A- 1983-1985 Limoges CSP
- 1988-1990 Limoges CSP
- 2019-2022 LDLC Asvel
Germany
Basketball Bundesliga- 1970-1972 TuS 04 Leverkusen
- 1990-1996 TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- 1997-2003 ALBA Berlin
- 2010-2013 Brose Baskets
- 2020-2022 ALBA Berlin
Iraq
Iraqi Professional Basketball League- 1981-1983 Al-Karkh
- 1986-1990 Al-Rasheed
- 2000-2002 Al-Karkh
- 2009-2012 Duhok
- 2017-2023 Al-Naft
- 2017-2021 Al-Naft
Israel
Israeli Basketball Premier League- 1957-1959 Maccabi Tel Aviv
- 1962-1964 Maccabi Tel Aviv
- 1970-1992 Maccabi Tel Aviv
- 1994-2007 Maccabi Tel Aviv
- 2018-2021 Maccabi Tel Aviv
Italy
Lega Basket Serie A- 1946-1949 Virtus Bologna
- 1950-1954 Olimpia Milano
- 1957-1960 Olimpia Milano
- 1965-1967 Olimpia Milano
- 1969-1971 Varese
- 1985-1987 Olimpia Milano
- 2007-2011 Mens Sana Siena
New Zealand
National Basketball League (Australia)- 2011-2013 New Zealand Breakers
Philippines
In the Philippines, a similar concept of a grand slam, winning all 3 conferences 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
- 1979–1984: Crispa Redmanizers
- 1987–1989: San Miguel Beer
- 1994–1997: Alaska Milkmen
- 2011–2013: Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
- 2015–2019: San Miguel Beermen
- 2011–2013: NLEX Road Warriors
- 2022–2024: EcoOil–De La Salle
Puerto Rico
BSN basketball- 1941-1943 Atléticos de San Germán
- 1947-1950 Atléticos de San Germán
- 1955-1957 Cardenales de Rio Piedras
- 1964-1966 Leones de Ponce
- 1971-1975 Vaqueros de Bayamon
- 1977-1979 Piratas de Quebradillas
- 1998-2001 Cangrejeros de Santurce
Russia
Russian Basketball Super League 1- 1992–2000 PBC CSKA Moscow
- 2003–2010 PBC CSKA Moscow
- 2011–2013 PBC CSKA Moscow
- 2012–2019, 2021 PBC CSKA Moscow
- 1992–1997 WBC CSKA Moscow
- 1998–2001 WBC Dynamo Moscow
- 2004–2006 VBM-SGAU Samara
- 2009–2021 UMMC Ekaterinburg
- 2023–2025 UMMC Ekaterinburg
Slovenia
Premier A Slovenian Basketball League- 1991-1999 Olimpija
- 2003-2006 Olimpija
- 2009-2014 Krka
- 2020-2023 Cedevita Olimpija
Spain
Liga ACB- 1960-1966 Real Madrid Baloncesto
- 1968-1977 Real Madrid Baloncesto
- 1984-1986 Real Madrid Baloncesto
- 1987-1990 Barcelona
- 1995-1997 Barcelona
Spanish Super Cup
- 2019-2022 Barcelona
Switzerland
Swiss Basketball League- 1997-1999 Fribourg
- 2000-2002 Lugano Tigers
- 2010-2012 Lugano Tigers
- 2018-2022 Fribourg
Turkey
Basketball Super League- 1970-1973 İTÜ BK
- 1976-1978 Eczacıbaşı
- 1980-1982 Eczacıbaşı
- 1992-1994 Efes Pilsen
- 2001-2004 Efes Pilsen
- 2016-2018 Fenerbahçe
Vietnam
VBA- 2019–2022 Saigon Heat
Canadian Football
Canada
Canadian Rugby Union / Canadian Football League :- 1909-1911 Toronto Varsity Blues
- 1922-1924 Queen's University
- 1945-1947 Toronto Argonauts
- 1954-1956 Edmonton Eskimos
- 1978-1982 Edmonton Eskimos
- 2011-2015 Windsor Lancers
Cricket
Australia
Queensland Premier Cricket T20- 2016–2018 Sandgate-Redcliffe Gators
India
Indian cricket's Ranji TrophyNew Zealand
New Zealand cricket's Plunket Shield- 1936/37–1939/40 Auckland
Futsal
Brazil
Taça Brasil de Futsal- 2003-2008 Malwee/Jaraguá
Iraq
Iraqi Futsal Premier League- 2012-2018 Naft Al-Wasat
Portugal
Campeonato Nacional de Futsal- 1993–1995 Sporting CP
- 2007–2009 Benfica
- 2016–2018 Sporting CP
- 2021–2024 Sporting CP
- 2017–2022 Sporting CP
- 2018–2020 Benfica
Russia
Russian Futsal Super League- 1992–2000 Dina (futsal club)
- 2003–2008 MFK Dinamo Moskva
- 2011–2013 MFK Dinamo Moskva
- 1995–1999 Dina (futsal club)
- 2008–2011 MFK Dinamo Moskva
- 2013–2015 MFK Dinamo Moskva
Spain
Primera División de Futsal- 2002–2005 Boomerang Interviú
- 2011–2013 Barcelona
- 2014–2018 Inter Movistar
- 2021–2023 Barcelona
- 1998–2000 Caja Segovia
- 2011–2013 Barcelona
Supercopa de España de Futsal
- 1998–2000 Caja Segovia
- 2001–2003 Boomerang Interviú
Gaelic football
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship- 1897-1899 Dublin
- 1906-1908 Dublin
- 1915-1918 Wexford
- 1921-1923 Dublin
- 1929-1932 Kerry
- 1897-1899 Dublin
- 1939-1941 Kerry
- 1964-1966 Galway
- 1978-1981 Kerry
- 1984-1986 Kerry
- 2015-2020 Dublin
Handball
Iraq
Iraqi Handball Premier League- 2016-2020 Al-Shorta
Slovenia
Slovenian First League of HandballRussia
Russian Handball Super League- 1996-1999 Kaustik Volgograd
- 2002-2022 Chekhovskiye Medvedi
Spain
Liga ASOBAL- 1956-1961 BM Granollers
- 1962-1965 Atlético Madrid BM
- 1966-1968 BM Granollers
- 1970-1972 BM Granollers
- 1975-1978 CB Alicante
- 1983-1985 Atlético Madrid BM
- 1988-1992 FC Barcelona Handbol
- 1995-2000 FC Barcelona Handbol
- 2007-2010 BM Ciudad Real
- 2011-2023 FC Barcelona Handbol
- 1982-1985 FC Barcelona Handbol
- 2013-2023 FC Barcelona Handbol
Hurling
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship- 1892-1894 Cork
- 1898-1900 Tipperary
- 1911-1913 Kilkenny
- 1941-1944 Cork
- 1949-1951 Tipperary
- 1952-1954 Cork
- 1976-1978 Cork
- 2006-2009 Kilkenny
- 2020-2023 Limerick
Ice Hockey
Australia
Australian Ice Hockey League- 2010-2012 Melbourne Ice
USSR
Soviet Championship League- 1948-1950 CSKA Moscow
- 1951-1953 VVS Moscow
- 1958-1961 CSKA Moscow
- 1963-1966 CSKA Moscow
- 1970-1973 CSKA Moscow
- 1977-1989 CSKA Moscow
- 1990-1992 Dynamo Moscow
Rugby Union
Australia & New Zealand
Super Rugby (Union)- 2017-2019 Christchurch Crusaders
England
Men's Premiership Rugby- 1991–1994 Bath
- 1999–2001 Leicester Tigers
- 2003–2005 London Wasps
- 2023–2025 Gloucester–Hartpury
- 2003–2005 Wasps Women
- 2006–2009 Saracens Women
- 2010–2012 Richmond Women
Rugby League
Australia & New Zealand
New South Wales Rugby Football League/Australian Rugby League/National Rugby League- 1911-1913 Eastern Suburbs
- 1915-1917 Balmain
- 1925-1929 South Sydney
- 1935-1937 Eastern Suburbs
- 1953-1955 South Sydney
- 1956-1966 St. George
- 1981-1983 Parramatta
- 2021-2024 Penrith
England
Northern Rugby Football Union/Northern Rugby Football League/Rugby Football League/Super League- 1989/90–1995/96 Wigan
- 2007–2009 Leeds
- 2019–2022 St. Helens
Volleyball
Philippines
PVL- 2022–2024: Creamline Cool Smashers
South Korea
V-League- 2008-2014 Daejeon Samsung Fire Bluefangs
Three-peats in continental and international championships
Olympics
[Summer Olympics]
Athletics- 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968 Al Oerter, Men's Discus throw
- 1984, 1988, 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's long jump|1992], 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's long jump|1996] Carl Lewis, Men's Long jump
- 1992, 1996, 2000 / Jan Železný, Men's Javelin throw
- 2008, 2012, 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres|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
- 1936–1968 USA, Men's Basketball tournament
- 1992–2000 USA, Men's Basketball tournament
- 1996–2024 USA, Women's Basketball tournament
- 2008–2024 USA, Men's Basketball tournament
- 2000, 2004, 2008 Anky van Grunsven, individual dressage
- 2012, 2016, 2020 Áron Szilágyi, individual men's sabre
Football
- 2004, 2008, 2012 USA, Women's Football tournament
- 1996, 2000, 2004 Denmark, Women's Handball tournament
- 2004, 2008, 2012, Ben Ainslie, Finn
- 2008, 2012, 2016, Jin Jong-oh, Men's 50m pistol
- 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
- 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024 Katie Ledecky, Women's 800 metres freestyle
- 1992, 1996, 2000 Cuba, Women's Volleyball tournament
- 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]
Curling- 2006 Winter Olympics|2006], 2010 Winter Olympics|2010], 2014 Canada, Men's Curling tournament
- 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932 Canada, Men's Ice Hockey tournament
- 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976 Soviet Union, Men's Ice Hockey tournament
- 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 Canada, Women's Ice Hockey tournament
Chess
[World Chess Championship]s
Unofficial Championships- 1866–1876 Wilhelm Steinitz
- 1886–1892 / Wilhelm Steinitz
- 1894–1910 Emanuel Lasker
- 1927–1934 Alexander Alekhine
- 1948–1954 Mikhail Botvinnik
- 1975–1981 Anatoly Karpov
- 1985–1995 / Garry Kasparov
- 1993–1998 Anatoly Karpov
- 2007–2012 Viswanathan Anand
- 2013–2021 Magnus Carlsen
[Women's World Chess Championship]s
- 1927–1939 / Vera Menchik
- 1962–1975 Nona Gaprindashvili
- 1978–1988 Maia Chiburdanidze
- 2018–2025 Ju Wenjun
Athletics
World Athletics Championships- 1983, 1987, 1991 Carl Lewis, Men's 100 metres at [the World Athletics Championships|100m]
- 1997, 1999, 2001 Maurice Greene, Men's 100m
- 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 Usain Bolt, Men's 200m
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 Kenenisa Bekele, Men's 10000m
- 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
- 1983, 1987, 1991, 1993 United States of America, Men's 4 × 100 m relay
- 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 Jamaica, Men's 4 × 100 m relay
- 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 United States of America, Men's 4 × 400 m relay
- 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
- 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
- 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001 Ivan Pedroso, Men's Long jump
- 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
- 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
- 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 Lars Riedel, Men's Discus throw
- 2009, 2011, 2013 Robert Harting, Men's Discus throw
- 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022 Pawel Fajdek, Men's Hammer throw
- 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
Cycling
Tour de FranceGeneral Classification
- 1953-1955 Louison Bobet
- 1961-1964 Jacques Anquetil
- 1969-1972 Eddy Merckx
- 1991-1995 Miguel Induráin
1999-2005 Lance Armstrong
- 1996-2001 Erik Zabel
- 2012-2016 Peter Sagan
- 1962-1964 Federico Bahamontes
- 1965-1967 Julio Jiménez
- 1994-1997 Richard Virenque
- 1996-1998 Jan Ullrich
- 2008-2010 Andy Schleck
- 2020-2023 Tadej Pogačar
- 2004-2006 T-Mobile Team
- 2018-2020 Movistar Team
Darts
BDO World Darts Championship- 1984–1986 Eric Bristow
- 2017–2019 Glen Durrant
- 1995–2002 Phil Taylor
- 2004–2006 Phil Taylor
BDO Women's World Darts Championship
- 2001–2007 Trina Gulliver
Esports
Counter Strike- 2010–2011 Natus Vincere
- 2018–2019 Astralis
- 2023 - 2025 T1
Competitive eating
[Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest]
Men
- 1988-1990 Jay Green
- 1993-1994 Mike DeVito
- 1996-1998 Hirofumi Nakajima
- 2001-2006 Takeru Kobayashi
- 2007-2014 Joey Chestnut
- 2016-2023 Joey Chestnut
Women
- 2011-2013 Sonya Thomas
- 2014-2020 Miki Sudo
Nathan's Famous Lemonade Chug Contest
- 2021-2024 Eric "Badlands" Booker
Futsal
FIFA Futsal World Cup- 1989, 1992, 1996 / Brazil
Intercontinental Futsal Cup
- 2005–2008, 2011 Boomerang Interviú/Interviú Fadesa/Inter Movistar
- 2016, 2018–2019 Magnus Futsal
- 2023–2025 Palma Futsal
- 2004–2009 Jaraguá
- 2017–2019 Carlos Barbosa
Golf
US Open">US Open (golf)">US Open
- 1903–1905 Willie Anderson
[The Open Championship]
- 1868–1872 Young Tom Morris
- 1877–1879 Jamie Anderson
- 1880–1882 Bob Ferguson
- 1954–1956 Peter Thomson
[PGA Championship]
- 1924–1927 Walter Hagen
International rules football
International Rules Series- 1990–1999 Ireland
Motorsports
Formula One World Drivers' Champion- 1954–1957 Juan Manuel Fangio
- 2000–2004 Michael Schumacher
- 2010–2013 Sebastian Vettel
- 2017–2020 Lewis Hamilton
- 2021–2024 Max Verstappen
Motorcycling
MotoGP- 1953-1955 Geoff Duke
- 1958-1960 John Surtees
- 1962-1965 Mike Hailwood
- 1966-1972 Giacomo Agostini
- 1990-1992 Wayne Rainey
- 1994-1998 Mick Doohan
- 2001-2005 Valentino Rossi
- 2016-2019 Marc Márquez
Motorboat racing
Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship- 1993-1996 Guido Cappellini
- 2001-2003 Guido Cappellini
- 2011-2013 Alex Carella
- 2014-2016 Philippe Chiappe
Rugby
Rugby Union
Women's Rugby World Cup- 1998–2010 New Zealand
Rugby League
Rugby League World CupWomen's Rugby League World Cup
- 2000–2008 New Zealand
- 2013–2021 Australia
Surfing
IPS World Circuit World Champion- 1979-1982 Mark Richards
- 1994-1998 Kelly Slater
- 2000-2002 Andy Irons
Winter X Games
Winter X Games SuperPipe- 2008-2013 Shaun White
Tennis
[Davis Cup]
- 1903–1906 British Isles
- 1907–1911
- 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]
- 1976–1982
- 1983–1985 Czechoslovakia
- 1993–1995 Spain
[Australian Open]
Men's singles
- 1931–1933 Jack Crawford
- 1963–1967 Roy Emerson
- 2011–2013 Novak Djokovic
- 2019–2021 Novak Djokovic
Women's singles
- 1928–1930 Daphne Akhurst Cozens
- 1946–1948 Nancye Wynne Bolton
- 1960–1966 Margaret Court
- 1969–1971 Margaret Court
- 1974–1976 Evonne Goolagong Cawley
- 1988–1990 Steffi Graf
- 1991–1993 Monica Seles
- 1997–1999 Martina Hingis
Men's doubles
- 1936–1940 Adrian Quist
- 1938–1940 John Bromwich
- 1946–1950 John Bromwich and Adrian Quist
- 1959–1961 Rod Laver and Bob Mark
- 2009–2011 Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan
Women's doubles
- 1923–1925 Sylvia Lance Harper
- 1936–1940 Thelma Coyne Long and Nancye Wynne Bolton
- 1947–1949 Thelma Coyne Long and Nancye Wynne Bolton
- 1954–1956 Mary Bevis Hawton
- 1961–1963 Margaret Court
- 1969–1971 Margaret Court
- 1974–1976 Evonne Goolagong Cawley
- 1976–12/1977 Helen Gourlay
- 1982–1989 Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver
- 1997–1999 Martina Hingis
[French Open]
Men's singles
- 1894–1896 André Vacherot
- 1897–1900 Paul Aymé
- 1907–1909 Max Decugis
- 1912–1914 Max Decugis
- 1978–1981 Björn Borg
- 2005–2008 Rafael Nadal
- 2010–2014 Rafael Nadal
- 2017–2020 Rafael Nadal
Women's singles
- 1897–1899 Adine Masson
- 1904–1906 Kate Gillou
- 1909–1912 Jeanne Matthey
- 1920–1923 Suzanne Lenglen
- 1928–1930 Helen Wills
- 1935–1937 Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling
- 1990–1992 Monica Seles
- 2005–2007 Justine Henin
- 2022–2024 Iga Świątek
Men's doubles
- 1961–1965 Roy Emerson
Women's doubles
- 1909–1912 Jeanne Matthey and Daisy Speranza
- 1920–1923 Suzanne Lenglen
- 1932–1934 Elizabeth Ryan
- 1936–1939 Simonne Mathieu
- 1936–1938 Billie Yorke
- 1950–1953 Doris Hart and Shirley Fry Irvin
- 1961–1963 Renée Schuurman
- 1964–1966 Margaret Court
- 1967–1971 Françoise Dürr
- 1984–1988 Martina Navratilova
- 1991–1995 Gigi Fernández
- 1992–1995 Natasha Zvereva
Wimbledon">The Championships, Wimbledon">Wimbledon
Gentlemen's singles
- 1881–1886 William Renshaw
- 1897–1900 Reginald Doherty
- 1902–1906 Laurence Doherty
- 1910–1913 Anthony Wilding
- 1934–1936 Fred Perry
- 1976–1980 Björn Borg
- 1993–1995 Pete Sampras
- 1997–2000 Pete Sampras
- 2003–2007 Roger Federer
- 2018–2022 Novak Djokovic
Ladies' singles
- 1891–1893 Lottie Dod
- 1919–1923 Suzanne Lenglen
- 1927–1930 Helen Wills
- 1948–1950 Louise Brough
- 1952–1954 Maureen Connolly
- 1966–1968 Billie Jean King
- 1982–1987 Martina Navratilova
- 1991–1993 Steffi Graf
Gentlemen's doubles
- 1884–1886 William Renshaw and Ernest Renshaw
- 1894–1896 Wilfred Baddeley and Herbert Baddeley
- 1897–1901 Laurence Doherty and Reginald Doherty
- 1903–1905 Laurence Doherty and Reginald Doherty
- 1921–22 Randolph Lycett
- 1929–1931 John Van Ryn
- 1968–1970 John Newcombe and Tony Roche
- 1993–1997 Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde
- 2002–2004 Todd Woodbridge and Jonas Björkman
Ladies' doubles
- 1919–1923 Suzanne Lenglen and Elizabeth Ryan
- 1925–1927 Elizabeth Ryan
- 1948–1950 Louise Brough and Margaret Osborne duPont
- 1951–1953 Shirley Fry Irvin and Doris Hart
- 1956–1958 Althea Gibson
- 1970–1973 Billie Jean King
- 1981–1984 Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver
- 1991–1994 Natasha Zvereva
- 1992–1994 Gigi Fernández
US Open">US Open (tennis)">US Open
Men's singles
- 1881–1887 Richard Sears
- 1890–1892 Oliver Campbell
- 1898–1900 Malcolm Whitman
- 1907–1911 William Larned
- 1920–1925 Bill Tilden
- 1979–1981 John McEnroe
- 1985–1987 Ivan Lendl
- 2004–2008 Roger Federer
Women's singles
- 1909–1911 Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman
- 1912–1914 Mary Browne
- 1915–1918 Molla Mallory
- 1920–1922 Molla Mallory
- 1923–1925 Helen Wills
- 1927–1929 Helen Wills
- 1932–1935 Helen Jacobs
- 1938–1940 Alice Marble
- 1943–1944 Pauline Betz
- 1948–1950 Margaret Osborne duPont
- 1951–1953 Maureen Connolly
- 1975–1978 Chris Evert
- 2012–2014 Serena Williams
Men's doubles
- 1882–1887 Richard Sears
- 1882–1884 James Dwight
- 1899–1901 Holcombe Ward and Dwight F. Davis
- 1904–1906 Holcombe Ward and Beals Wright
- 1907–1910 Fred Alexander and Harold Hackett
- 1912–1914 Maurice McLoughlin and Tom Bundy
- 1921–1923 Bill Tilden
- 1928–1930 George Lott
- 2021–2023 Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury
Women's doubles
- 1894–1898 Juliette Atkinson
- 1909–1911 Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman
- 1912–1914 Mary K. Browne
- 1915–1917 Eleonora Sears
- 1918–1920 Marion Jessup and Eleanor Goss
- 1937–1941 Sarah Palfrey Cooke
- 1937–1940 Alice Marble
- 1941–1950 Margaret Osborne duPont
- 1942–1950 Louise Brough
- 1951–1954 Shirley Fry Irvin and Doris Hart
- 1955–1957 Louise Brough and Margaret Osborne duPont
- 1958–1962 Darlene Hard
- 2002–2004 Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez
[ATP World Tour Finals]
Singles
- 1971–1973 Ilie Năstase
- 1985–1987 Ivan Lendl
- 2012–2015 Novak Djokovic
Doubles
- 1978–1984 Peter Fleming and John McEnroe
[WTA Finals]
Singles
- 1983–1986 Martina Navratilova
- 1990–1992 Monica Seles
- 2012–2014 Serena Williams
[Indian Wells Masters]
Men's singles
- 2004–2006 Roger Federer
- 2014–2016 Novak Djokovic
Men's doubles
- 1986–1988 Guy Forget
- 1988–1990 Boris Becker
Miami Open">Miami Open (tennis)">Miami Open
Men's singles
- 2001–2003 Andre Agassi
- 2014–2016 Novak Djokovic
Women's singles
- 1994–1996 Steffi Graf
- 2002–2004 Serena Williams
- 2013–2015 Serena Williams
Men's doubles
- 1996–1998 Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde
- 2010–2012 Leander Paes
Women's doubles
- 1995–1997 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
[Monte Carlo Masters]
Men's singles
- 2005–2012 Rafael Nadal
- 2016–2018 Rafael Nadal
Italian Open">Italian Open (tennis)">Italian Open
Men's singles
- 2005–2007 Rafael Nadal
[Paris Masters]
Men's singles
- 2013–2015 Novak Djokovic
Dubai Championships">Dubai Tennis Championships">Dubai Championships
Men's singles
- 2003-2005 Roger Federer
- 2009–2011 Novak Djokovic
Barcelona Open">Barcelona Open (tennis)">Barcelona Open
Men's singles
- 2005–2009 Rafael Nadal
- 2011–2013 Rafael Nadal
- 2016–2018 Rafael Nadal
[Halle Open]
Men's singles
- 2003-2006 Roger Federer
- 2013-2015 Roger Federer
China Open">China Open (tennis)">China Open
Men's singles
- 2012–2015 Novak Djokovic
[Swiss Indoors]
Men's singles
- 2006-2008 Roger Federer
- 2017-2019 Roger Federer
National Football League
In the National Football League, 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, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs. The first eight teams failed to return to the title game in the third season ; the Chiefs lost Super Bowl LIX to the Philadelphia Eagles.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, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs have each won 3 consecutive Conference championships 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, 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)
Rather than three-peat, English-speaking people may instead talk of a hat trick of championships, or simply a three-in-a-row.