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Quiz about Dreaming the Impossible Dream
Quiz about Dreaming the Impossible Dream

Dreaming the Impossible Dream Trivia Quiz


For these sporting heroes, it must have felt, at times, as if they were dreaming the impossible dream. But sometimes dreams do come true. This quiz takes a looks at 10 champions who reached their own seemingly unreachable star.

A multiple-choice quiz by KayceeKool. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
KayceeKool
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
338,550
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
1862
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke baseball's colour barrier when he walked out on to Ebbets Field to make his Major League debut for which team? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which burly American golfer, known for his off-course exploits and lurid outfits, won the 1991 PGA Championship title and was dubbed the "improbable champion"? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. At Epsom in 1953, which legendary English jockey, riding Pinza, achieved his dream of winning the Derby on his 27th and final attempt? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Which country claimed its first Winter Olympics gold medal at Salt Lake City in 2002, when Steven Bradbury who was literally the last man left standing, won the men's speed skating 1000 metre event? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. In 2001, which Croatian tennis player overcame a chronic injury to become the first wild card entry to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Which Argentinean footballer, nicknamed the "atomic flea", was diagnosed with Growth Hormone Deficiency but still went on to be named FIFA Footballer of the Year in both 2009 and 2010? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Which Canadian ice hockey player won two Stanley Cups and led his country to an Olympic Gold Medal, despite fighting both debilitating injuries and cancer during his career? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Who was nicknamed "The Cinderella Man" and caused one of boxing's biggest upsets, when he beat Max Baer in June 1935 to become World Heavyweight Champion? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Which cyclist who in 1986 became the first American to win the Tour de France, and fought back from a near fatal hunting accident to win the 1989 Tour by just eight seconds? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Although he finished last in both his competitions at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, ski jumper Michael Edwards became a sensation around the world. By which nickname was this unlikely hero better known? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke baseball's colour barrier when he walked out on to Ebbets Field to make his Major League debut for which team?

Answer: Brooklyn Dodgers

Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play Major League Baseball when he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers against the Boston Braves and opened the way for many great players of colour to follow. Hank Aaron summed up this achievement when, in an article for "Time Magazine", he said "Before Jackie Robinson broke the colour line, I wasn't permitted even to think about being a professional baseball player. I once mentioned something about it to my father and he said "Ain't no coloured ballplayers. All that changed when Jackie put on #42 and started stealing bases in a Dodger's uniform."
2. Which burly American golfer, known for his off-course exploits and lurid outfits, won the 1991 PGA Championship title and was dubbed the "improbable champion"?

Answer: John Daly

John Daly was a PGA rookie and had never won a Tour title when he became PGA champion in August 1991. Having twice failed to qualify, he was listed as the 9th alternate for the tournament when he received a call in Tennessee at 5pm the day before the tournament started, inviting him to play.

He drove through the night to make it to the course in Indiana in time to tee off. Without the benefit of a practice round on an exceedingly difficult course and with a loaned caddie, he took the lead in the first round and never relinquished it, beating Bruce Lietzke by three shots.
3. At Epsom in 1953, which legendary English jockey, riding Pinza, achieved his dream of winning the Derby on his 27th and final attempt?

Answer: Gordon Richards

Sir Gordon Richards was a winner of 26 national champion jockey titles and had 14 wins in "classics" races, but despite 26 attempts, a win in the Epsom Derby had proved elusive. The year of 1953 was a year of jubilation in the UK as the new Queen had been crowned and that year's Derby was awaited with national anticipation. Pinza beat Aureole by four lengths, and at the age of 49, Sir Gordon Richards finally had his Derby win.
4. Which country claimed its first Winter Olympics gold medal at Salt Lake City in 2002, when Steven Bradbury who was literally the last man left standing, won the men's speed skating 1000 metre event?

Answer: Australia

In the final of the men's short track speed skating 1000m event, Steven Bradbury of Australia was some 15 metres behind the other four skaters coming into the last bend of the course when a pile up left all four sprawled on the ice. Bradbury avoided the carnage and skated across the line to become the winner of Australia's first ever gold medal at a Winter Games.

It was also the first win in a winter Olympic event by any person from a Southern Hemisphere country.
5. In 2001, which Croatian tennis player overcame a chronic injury to become the first wild card entry to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon?

Answer: Goran Ivanisevic

The losing finalist at Wimbledon in 1992, 1994, and 1998, Goran Ivanisevic's career had gone downhill as he struggled to overcome a chronic shoulder injury. Granted a wild card entry into the 2001 tournament, Ivanisevic powered to the final and beat Australia's Pat Rafter in five sets to become the lowest ranked player and first wild card entry to win the men's singles title.
6. Which Argentinean footballer, nicknamed the "atomic flea", was diagnosed with Growth Hormone Deficiency but still went on to be named FIFA Footballer of the Year in both 2009 and 2010?

Answer: Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi was diagnosed with GHD, a condition in which the body does not produce enough growth hormone for normal development to occur at the age of 11. His family was advised that without treatment, he could not be expected to grow in height. The treatment he needed cost beyond the means of his family.

A trial was organized for Messi with Barcelona Football Club, who immediately signed him and paid for the treatment.
7. Which Canadian ice hockey player won two Stanley Cups and led his country to an Olympic Gold Medal, despite fighting both debilitating injuries and cancer during his career?

Answer: Mario Lemieux

Mario Lemieux's career was plagued by health and injury problems. In 1991, despite undergoing surgery for a herniated spinal disc and a subsequent severe surgery related infection, he led the Penguins to their first Stanley Cup win, a feat they repeated a year later.

In January 1993, Lemieux was diagnosed with the nodular lymphocytic form of Hodgkin's disease and underwent radiation treatment but returned two months later. However, ongoing health problems dogged him and he retired at the end of the 1996-97 season.

He tried an on and off comeback, but retired for good in 2006.
8. Who was nicknamed "The Cinderella Man" and caused one of boxing's biggest upsets, when he beat Max Baer in June 1935 to become World Heavyweight Champion?

Answer: James J Braddock

James J Braddock won the world heavyweight title against all the odds. His career had been derailed by injury to his hands and he was surviving on welfare payments when he was given and won a chance bout. This victory ultimately led to a title shot against the current champion, Max Baer. He was the 10-1 underdog but, in a tenacious display, he beat Baer by unanimous decision.
9. Which cyclist who in 1986 became the first American to win the Tour de France, and fought back from a near fatal hunting accident to win the 1989 Tour by just eight seconds?

Answer: Greg LeMond

In 1986, Greg LeMond became the first American and the first non-European to win the Tour de France. However, in 1987 he was seriously injured in a hunting accident when his brother-in-law discharged his shotgun, peppering LeMond's back with buckshot.

In the 1989 Tour by the last stage, a 24 kilometre individual time trial into Paris, Fignon led LeMond by 50 seconds. For LeMond to win, he would have to gain two seconds per kilometer on Fignon. LeMond beat Fignon by 58 seconds and won his second Tour de France by a mere eight seconds.
10. Although he finished last in both his competitions at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, ski jumper Michael Edwards became a sensation around the world. By which nickname was this unlikely hero better known?

Answer: Eddie the Eagle

Michael "Eddie the Eagle" Edwards, jumped his way into the hearts of the world, if not the record books, when he became the first competitor to represent Great Britain in ski-jumping at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Calgary. He finished in last place in both the 70 metre and 90 metre events.

He became the first individual athlete to be mentioned in an Olympic closing speech when the president of the Games said, "At Calgary, some people set new goals, created new records and some even flew like an eagle." He declared that, "It has long been my dream to go to the Olympics and just taking part was my gold medal."
Source: Author KayceeKool

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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