Biggest records of 2021: William Shatner in space, Everest climber’s 25th ascent, NFTs boost art sales
- The giant container ship Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal, Messi outstripped Brazil’s Pele as the best Latin American striker, and July was the hottest month ever recorded
- Elsewhere, the most dramatic Chinese incursion into disputed Taiwanese airspace occurred at the start of October
From sizzling temperatures to Messi and Ronaldo and pensioners in space, here are some of the most significant records struck in 2021.
The ship, almost as long as New York’s Empire State Building, caused a record traffic jam of 422 ships loaded with 26 million tonnes of merchandise, worsening supply difficulties already disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Art sales records in 2021 included works by Frida Kahlo, veteran French artist Pierre Soulages and Banksy reaching sky-high levels.
Revenues from sales of contemporary art have never been as high, totalling US$2.7 billion, boosted in particular by the explosion in sales of unique digital works and NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
Australia’s Chloe McCardel, 36, became the person to have swum the Channel the most – a remarkable 44 times.
Nepal’s Kami Rita Sherpa beat his own record for climbing Everest, claiming a 25th successful ascent to the roof of the world in May.
