From the ancient Games at Olympia to London 2012 and beyond. Ten questions stand between you and gold.
Ten questions covering the whole Olympic story: the ancient Games, Coubertin, Jesse Owens in Berlin, Phelps in Beijing and more. Anything less than a podium finish means more training.
Pick your level
Every four years the Olympic Games produce moments that outlive the medals. Jesse Owens silencing Berlin in 1936, Nadia Comaneci breaking the scoreboard with a perfect 10, Michael Phelps collecting eight golds in a single Games. The history of the Olympics is really a history of moments nobody saw coming.
This quiz digs into that history: the ancient Games at Olympia, the man who revived them, the meaning of the five rings, record-breaking sprints and the cities that have hosted it all. Ten questions, four options each. Casual viewers might scrape a bronze. Real Olympics fans should be aiming higher.
All ten easy level questions, with the answer and the reasoning behind it.
Correct answer: Bronze
Bronze, and those athletes often look the happiest.
Correct answer: Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, the first Games in South America.
Correct answer: Diving
Diving, and he also knitted in the stands at Tokyo.
Correct answer: A torch
A torch, and on one occasion it went underwater and into space.
Correct answer: Japan
Japan, in Tokyo, largely without spectators.
Correct answer: Snowboarding
Snowboarding, on the programme since 1998.
Correct answer: Jamaica
Jamaica, and he also had a great line in victory poses.
Correct answer: Faster
Faster, or Citius in Latin, followed by higher and stronger.
Correct answer: Breaking
Breaking, and it is off the list for Los Angeles 2028.
Correct answer: Asia
Asia, in Beijing, with its famous Bird's Nest stadium.
Want to warm up before playing or double-check something? Open any question to reveal the correct answer and a short explanation.
Correct answer: Athens
The first modern Games took place in Athens in April 1896, with 241 athletes from 14 nations. American James Connolly won the triple jump to become the first Olympic champion in over 1,500 years.
Correct answer: Pierre de Coubertin
French baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the IOC in 1894. He also designed the five-ring symbol and wrote the athletes' oath still used today.
Correct answer: Four
Owens won the 100m, 200m, long jump and 4x100m relay, a stunning rebuke to Nazi propaganda delivered in the stadium Hitler had built for the occasion.
Correct answer: Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps retired with 23 Olympic golds, more than double any other athlete in history. No country would be embarrassed by his personal medal table.
Correct answer: The five continents
Designed by Coubertin in 1913, the rings stand for the union of the five continents. The six colours, white background included, covered every national flag of the era.
Correct answer: London
London hosted in 1908, 1948 and 2012, making it the first three-time host city. Paris matched that feat in 2024.
Correct answer: Nadia Comaneci
At Montreal 1976, 14-year-old Nadia Comaneci scored the first perfect 10 in Olympic history. The scoreboard could not display 10.00, so it famously showed 1.00 instead.
Correct answer: 9.58 seconds
Bolt ran 9.58 at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. His Olympic record of 9.63, set at London 2012, still stands as well.
Correct answer: Olympia
The ancient Games were held at Olympia in honour of Zeus, starting in 776 BC. The sanctuary is what gave the Olympics their name.
Correct answer: Beijing 2008
Phelps went eight for eight at Beijing 2008, breaking Mark Spitz's single-Games record of seven golds from Munich 1972.
Stuck on one, or just curious how nasty it gets? Every hard mode question is here with its answer and the reasoning behind it.
Correct answer: Abebe Bikila
Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia, the first Black African Olympic champion.
Correct answer: Ski jumping
Ski jumping, finishing last, and winning hearts.
Correct answer: The Soviet Union
The Soviet Union, a team of college players over the world's best.
Correct answer: Dick Fosbury
Dick Fosbury, and almost everyone has jumped that way since.
Correct answer: Steve Redgrave
Steve Redgrave, from 1984 to 2000, despite saying he would stop in 1996.
Correct answer: The Jamaican bobsled team
The Jamaican bobsled team, at Calgary in 1988.
Correct answer: Cathy Freeman
Cathy Freeman, a landmark moment for Aboriginal Australians.
Correct answer: Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali, one of the most moving moments in Olympic history.
Correct answer: Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek of Czechoslovakia, who had never run a marathon before.
Correct answer: Antwerp 1920
Antwerp 1920, the first Games after the First World War.