Olympics History Quiz

1. In which country did the ancient Olympic Games originate?

1. Egypt
2. Greece
3. Italy
4. Turkey

2. In which year and city were the first modern Olympic Games held?

1. 1888 London
2. 1896 Athens
3. 1900 Paris
4. 1904 St. Louis

3. Who is the most decorated Olympian of all time?

1. Carl Lewis
2. Larisa Latynina
3. Michael Phelps
4. Usain Bolt

4. How many gold medals did Michael Phelps win at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a single-Games record?

1. 6
2. 7
3. 8
4. 9

5. What do the five Olympic rings represent?

1. Five continents
2. Five founding nations
3. Five host cities
4. Five sports

6. What is the Olympic motto (in its classic Latin form)?

1. Carpe Diem
2. Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger)
3. Fortuna Favet
4. Veni, Vidi, Vici

7. Which Jamaican sprinter won the 100m and 200m at three straight Olympics?

1. Asafa Powell
2. Tyson Gay
3. Usain Bolt
4. Yohan Blake

8. Which American won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics?

1. Bob Hayes
2. Carl Lewis
3. Jesse Owens
4. Ralph Metcalfe

9. Which city hosted the 2024 Summer Olympics?

1. London
2. Los Angeles
3. Paris
4. Tokyo

10. How often are the Summer Olympic Games normally held?

1. Every 2 years
2. Every 3 years
3. Every 4 years
4. Every 5 years

11. Which gymnast scored the first perfect 10 in Olympic history, at Montreal 1976?

1. Larisa Latynina
2. Nadia Comăneci
3. Olga Korbut
4. Simone Biles

12. Which swimmer won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics?

1. Ian Thorpe
2. Mark Spitz
3. Matt Biondi
4. Michael Phelps

13. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were unusual for what reason?

1. They had no host
2. They were cancelled
3. They were held in 2021 due to the pandemic
4. They were held in winter

14. Which city will host the 2028 Summer Olympics?

1. Brisbane
2. Los Angeles
3. Paris
4. Tokyo

15. What is Usain Bolt's 100m world record time?

1. 9.58 seconds
2. 9.63 seconds
3. 9.69 seconds
4. 9.72 seconds

16. What flame is lit to open the Olympic Games?

1. The eternal flame
2. The Olympic torch/flame
3. The unity flame
4. The victory flame

17. In which season sport did Norway and other cold nations dominate at a separate Games?

1. The Paralympics
2. The Summer Olympics
3. The Winter Olympics
4. The Youth Olympics

18. Which US swimmer and which sprinter are among the most golden Olympians ever?

1. Biondi and Johnson
2. Lewis and Thorpe
3. Phelps and Bolt
4. Spitz and Owens

19. The marathon's distance of 42.195 km was standardised at which 1908 host city?

1. Athens
2. London
3. Paris
4. Stockholm

20. Which body governs the modern Olympic movement?

1. FIFA
2. The International Olympic Committee (IOC)
3. The United Nations
4. World Athletics