Nordic Sportsmen and Women Trivia Quiz

Answer: Boris Becker

Edberg played Becker in 1988, 1989 and 1990, winning the first and third matches, while Becker triumphed in 1989. Stefan also won the Australian Open twice, in 1985 and 1987, and the US Open in 1991 and 1992. He reached the French Open final on one occasion, in 1989, where he lost to Michael Chang. Edberg also won three Men's Doubles titles at the Majors, two with fellow Swede Anders Jarryd, and one with Petr Korda.

In January 2014 Edberg took on the role of coaching Roger Federer.

Answer: Figure skating

Henie was one of the best known skaters of her era, and moved into films after her competitive career finished. She won the gold medal at three Olympic Games, in 1928, 1932 and 1936, and was World Champion on ten separate occasions. Sonja's film career covered many movies featuring her ice skating skills, including 'Thin Ice' (1937) and 'Wintertime' (1943).

She died in 1969 at the relatively young age of fifty-seven.

Answer: Paavo Nurmi

Not only did Viren win the 10,000 metres in 1972 and 1976, he achieved a golden double by winning the 5,000 metres at both games as well. Nurmi won his 10,000 metre titles in Antwerp in 1920 and Amsterdam in 1928, and also won the silver medal at 5,000 metres in the same years.

In 1924, in Paris, he won gold in both the 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres. The other names listed are also Finnish sportsmen, with Sami Hyppia being a former football (soccer) player and Jarkko Nieminen making his mark in tennis.

There have been two ice hockey players named Antti Niemi, as well as another footballer, so you can choose whichever sport you prefer.

Answer: Thomas Bjorn

Bjorn turned professional in 1993 and qualified to play on the European Tour in 1996. Between 1996 and 2013 he won fifteen events on that tour, although his best results for the same period in the major championships have been three second places in The Open in 2000 and 2003, and in the PGA of 2005. Thomas was also a member of the winning European Ryder Cup team in both 1997 and 2002.

The other three golfers listed are all from Sweden.

Answer: Monza

Ronnie Peterson made his Formula One debut in 1970 after a career in karting and Formulas Three and Two. In the 1978 Italian Grand Prix, at Monza, a big collision took place early in the race which led to Peterson's car catching fire. He was rescued by three of his fellow drivers, although he had sustained severe fractures to his legs.

Despite the injuries, his life was not believed to be at risk, but a fat embolism developed and killed him. The other circuits listed are more northern, with Silverstone being in the UK, Hungaroring (not unexpectedly) being in Hungary and Hockenheimring in Germany.

Answer: Cardiff City

Having established his career in Norway, Solskjaer moved to England to play for Manchester United in 1996. He stayed with the club throughout the remainder of his playing career, and was a successful, and popular, player. He retired, due to injury, in 2007 and took on various coaching roles at Manchester United before returning to Norway in 2011 to manage his former club, Molde, very successfully.

In January 2014 he was appointed as manager for Cardiff City.

Answer: False

Caroline turned professional in 2005 and was the world's number one ranked female player between October 2010 and February 2011. She has been unable to convert her talent into wins at the major championships, at least up until the end of 2013. Her appearance in the 2009 US Open final was the only time she reached a major final in the first ten years of the twenty-first century, and she lost to Kim Clijsters 7-5, 6-3.

Answer: Tommi Makinen

Tommi won the World Rally Championships on four successive occasions, from 1996 until 1999 inclusive, with another Finn, Marcus Gronholm, winning in 2000 (as well as in 2002) for a five year Finnish streak. Other Finns to have been World Champion include Juha Kankkunen, in 1986, 1987, 1991 and 1993 and Hannu Mikkola in 1983.

It seems that the Finns just love driving at breakneck speeds through forests and dirt tracks as well as on public roads. The other three men listed are also Finnish drivers, but primarily in Formula One racing.

Answer: Sweden

Stenmark won two gold medals at the 1980 Winter Olympics, held in Lake Placid, where he won both the Slalom and Giant Slalom events. He had previously won the bronze medal in the Giant Slalom at the previous Olympics, in Innsbruck. Stenmark also won three gold medals at World Championships.

He retired from skiing in 1989, having amassed a total of 86 victories in competitive events, all in slalom events.

Answer: Cycling

The highlight of Riis's career was his triumph in the 1996 Tour de France, although this was subsequently tarnished by his admission that he had taken illegal drugs. His win stands, after being temporarily removed, but with a marker to indicate his use of doping to assist his success. Riis retired from riding in 1999 and immediately moved into management of a professional cycling team based in his home country.