FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Back on Track Trivia Quiz

Take a look at record-setting track achievements and Olympic victories and disappointments during the 20th century. The quiz is mostly US-oriented.

A multiple-choice quiz by AlexT781. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
AlexT781

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
382,775

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
241

Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. A year before winning four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics, what feat did Jesse Owens accomplish? Hint

He was one of the slowest runners at the time.

He actually ran faster than he did in the Olympics.

He set three world records in 45 minutes.

He didn't achieve anything - he had just started running track.

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. May 6, 1954 saw the first sub-four minute mile. Where did Roger Bannister set the new world record, at 3:59.4? Hint

Harvard

Cambridge

Oxford

Eton

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. During the 2000 Olympics, which athlete won three gold medals and three bronze medals, only to later lose all six of them when she admitted to using steroids? Hint

Marion Jeffries

Marion Morrison

Marion Jones

Marion Barry

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Kendra Harrison set the Women's 100 meter hurdles world record on July 22, 2016. Despite her ability, what kept her from appearing in the 2016 Olympics? Hint

She never attempted to try out.

She placed sixth in the US finals.

She received an injury.

She wasn't looking to compete until the 2020 Olympics.

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. During the 1980 Olympics, Olga Rukavishnikova held the Women's Pentathlon world record for how long? Hint

1 day

8.5 minutes

22 minutes

0.4 seconds

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In the 1980 Olympics, nearly every women's track and field event resulted in either a new world record or new Olympic record being set.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Carl Lewis tested positive for banned substances during the 1988 Olympics and nearly lost his medals.

True

False

8. Florence Griffith-Joyner, an athlete accused of using steroids during the 1988 Olympics, won three gold medals and one silver medal in her track events. How did the International Olympic Committee handle the accusation? Hint

They ignored the accusation.

She was disqualified during her final event.

She was not specifically accused.

She was singled out for extra testing.

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. During the 1964 Olympics, Robert Hayes (USA) won two gold medals, for the 100m and the 4x100m, setting a world record for each. In 1972, he made another record of sorts by doing what? Hint

Nearly duplicating Jesse Owens' 1936 victories

Tying his world record after 10 years of not competing

Winning Super Bowl VI with the Dallas Cowboys

Became the first African-American US Olympic track team coach

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which country won the most track and field medals during the 1946 Olympic Games? Hint

None of these

England

West Germany

Soviet Union

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Dec 04 2024 : lutefisk: 8/10
Nov 19 2024 : dee1304: 9/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A year before winning four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics, what feat did Jesse Owens accomplish?

Answer: He set three world records in 45 minutes.

On May 25, 1935, at a Big Ten meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jesse Owens set world records for the long jump (26ft 8.25in), 220-yard sprint (20.3s), and 220-yard low hurdles (22.6s). He also tied the world record for the 100-yard dash, at 9.4s.

2. May 6, 1954 saw the first sub-four minute mile. Where did Roger Bannister set the new world record, at 3:59.4?

Answer: Oxford

He held the record for 46 days, when it was broken by Australia's John Landy. On June 21, 1954, in Turku, Finland, Landy set the new record at 3:57.9 (officially rounded up to 3:58.0), beating Bannister's record by 1.4 seconds.

3. During the 2000 Olympics, which athlete won three gold medals and three bronze medals, only to later lose all six of them when she admitted to using steroids?

Answer: Marion Jones

Marion Jones lost her Olympic medals as well as her 2001 World Championships medals. She returned her medals in Octoebr 2007 and , in December 2007, was banned from participating in the 2008 Olympics as well. The International Olympic Committee initially voted to strip her relay teammates of their medals as well. Fortunately for them, the ruling was successfully overturned.

4. Kendra Harrison set the Women's 100 meter hurdles world record on July 22, 2016. Despite her ability, what kept her from appearing in the 2016 Olympics?

Answer: She placed sixth in the US finals.

Although she didn't qualify for the USA in the 2016 Olympics, a world record is a good consolation prize.

5. During the 1980 Olympics, Olga Rukavishnikova held the Women's Pentathlon world record for how long?

Answer: 0.4 seconds

Although Olga finished first, setting the new record, her teammate Nadezhda Tkachenko finished in second, just under half a second behind. Nadezhda's total pentathlon score was higher, thus breaking the just-made world record. Olga still holds the record for holding a world record the shortest time by any track and field athlete, however.

6. In the 1980 Olympics, nearly every women's track and field event resulted in either a new world record or new Olympic record being set.

Answer: True

In total, 97 world records were beaten and 241 Olympic records were set. In 2016, two records set in 1980 still stand - the women's 800 meter and the modern men's pentathlon.

7. Carl Lewis tested positive for banned substances during the 1988 Olympics and nearly lost his medals.

Answer: False

Carl Lewis tested positive for, but had negligible amounts of, various forms of ephedra. He was unfortunately brought up during the 1988 US doping scandal, but had simply taken an over-the-counter medicine a few days before testing.

Answer: She was singled out for extra testing.

Years after the 1988 games, members of the doping committee revealed that because she was specifically named in connection to the doping scandal, her samples underwent additional, stricter testing throughout the Olympic Games.

9. During the 1964 Olympics, Robert Hayes (USA) won two gold medals, for the 100m and the 4x100m, setting a world record for each. In 1972, he made another record of sorts by doing what?

Answer: Winning Super Bowl VI with the Dallas Cowboys

Robert Hayes became the first person to have won a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal.

10. Which country won the most track and field medals during the 1946 Olympic Games?

Answer: None of these

There were no Olympics in held in 1946. After the Berlin Games in 1936, the Olympics weren't held again until 1948, in London.

Source: Author AlexT781

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Related Quizzes

This quiz is part of series Commission #43:

Basically, every quiz in this list begins with 'B'. Launching in July 2016, our quiz-writers were tasked with a bevy of 'B' titles in the Author's Lounge. Enjoy!

  1. Bad Moon Rising Average
  2. Bruce, Bobby, Bert or Bill Easier
  3. Big Bad Bears Easier
  4. Books 'B' Happening! Average
  5. Ballroom Blitz Average
  6. Better the Devil You Know Easier
  7. Big, Bad Breakfast Average
  8. Back on Track Average
  9. Back to the Old School Average
  10. Breathe Deeply Average
  11. Because I'm Worth It Easier
  12. Bright as a Button Easier