One Singular Sensation Trivia Quiz

Answer: Primo Carnera

Born in Northern Italy and 6ft 6in (2.01m) tall, Primo Carnera (1906-1967) knocked out more of his opponents than any other heavyweight boxer in history. He became world champion in 1933 after knocking out Jack Sharkey. He defended the title twice before losing to Max Baer, in a fight in which he was knocked down multiple times. Following his retirement from the boxing ring he embarked on a successful wrestling career.

Not content with one alliterative alias, Carnera was also known as the 'Gentle Giant' and the 'Vast Venetian'.

Answer: Michael Phelps

Baltimore-born Michael Phelps is widely considered to be the greatest swimmer of all time. Competing in five Olympics, the first in 2000 at the age of 15, he amassed 28 medals, 23 of them gold. In Beijing in 2008 he became the first athlete ever to win eight gold medals in a single Olympics.

He was the most successful competitor in every Olympics from 2004 to 2016 and holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals, golds in individual events and medals in individual events.

Answer: Jean Borotra

Jean Borotra (1898-1994), born in the French Basque country, was one of the 'Four Musketeers', the others being Toto Brugnon, Henri Cochet and Rene Lacoste, who dominated men's tennis in the 1920s and 1930s. Known for his beret and energetic style of play, he won four Grand Slam singles titles, multiple doubles and mixed doubles titles, helped France win the Davis Cup and won a bronze medal at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris.

In 1924 he became the first player from outside the English-speaking world to win the Wimbledon singles title and in 1986, as the oldest surviving men's champion, he presented the trophy to Boris Becker, winner of the 100th Wimbledon championship.

Answer: Eric Bristow

Londoner Eric Bristow was World Darts Champion five times during the 1980s. He adopted the nickname "Crafty Cockney" after visiting a pub with that name in California. His career was derailed by dartitis, inability to release the dart and follow through, and although he returned to the circuit after eight years away he was unable to replicate his earlier success.

Answer: Michael Edwards

Michael 'Eddie' Edwards was the first ever British competitor in Olympic ski-jumping. At the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988 he competed, and finished last, in both the 70m and 90m events, his jump of 71m setting a British record that stood until 2001.

The International Olympic Committee subsequently instituted the 'Eddie the Eagle' rule, requiring aspiring Olympians to finish in either the top 50 or top 30% of competitors in an international competition. Edwards' story was portrayed in 2016 film 'Eddie the Eagle' starring Taron Egerton.

Answer: Paavo Nurmi

Finnish athlete Paavo Nurmi dominated distance running during the 1920s. Having won three gold medals and one silver at the Antwerp Olympics in 1920, he went on to win a record five gold medals at the Paris Games of 1924, setting 1,500 and 5,000 metre records within little more than an hour of each other.

He won an additional 10,000 metre Olympic title in Amsterdam in 1928 but was unable to compete in Los Angeles in 1932 having lost his amateur status. He lit the Olympic cauldron in Helsinki in 1952 and was depicted on the 10 markkaa banknote from 1986 until 2002, when Finland adopted the euro.

Answer: Jack Dempsey

Born in Manassa, Colorado, William Harrison 'Jack' Dempsey (1895-1983) became world heavyweight boxing champion in 1919, knocking his opponent Jess Willard down seven times in the first round. Dempsey's aggressive style of boxing made him one of the most popular boxers in history and his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first million-dollar gate.

He retained the heavyweight title until 1926, when he was defeated by Gene Tunney. The following year he lost a controversial rematch known as the 'The Long Count'.

Answer: Rod Laver

Rockhampton, Queensland's favourite son, Rod 'Rocket' Laver won 198 tennis singles titles, more than any other player in history. Laver turned professional in 1962, the year in which he won all four Grand Slam singles titles and was part of the Australian Davis Cup-winning team. With the dawn of the open era he became the first professional Wimbledon champion in 1968 and in 1969 he completed a second Grand Slam.

The centre court at Melbourne Park, home of the Australian Open, was named the Rod Laver Arena in 2000.

Answer: Babe Ruth

Also known as 'the Bambino' or 'the Colossus of Clout', George Herman 'Babe' Ruth (1895-1948) is widely considered to have been the greatest baseball player of all time. His home run hitting transformed the game. He started his major league career with the Boston Red Sox, originally as a pitcher, winning three World Series championships with them before being controversially traded to the New York Yankees in 1919.

His 1927 record of 61 home runs stood until beaten by Roger Maris in 1961 and his career tally of 714 was unbeaten until surpassed by Hank Aaron in 1974. Ruth retired from the game in 1935 and two years later became an inaugural member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Answer: John Higgins

Wishaw, Scotland native John Higgins became a professional snooker player at the age of 17, having previously won the 1991 World Junior Masters Championship. He won the World Championship in 1998 and again in 2007 and 2009. In 2010 Higgins and his manager were accused of match fixing, following a sting operation carried out in Kyiv by 'News of the World' reporter Mazher Mahmood. Higgins argued that he had had no intention of throwing matches, but had gone along with the proposed scheme because he feared he was being targeted by Russian Mafia figures.

His explanation was accepted following an independent enquiry, but Higgins was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute and received a six months ban. He returned to win his fourth World title in 2011.