Not Just an Olympian Trivia Quiz

Answer: Benjamin Spock

Dr Benjamin McLane Spock was an American paediatrician (i.e. a doctor specialising in children's medical issues). He wrote a number of books on child-rearing which became best sellers and made him a household name. His first book, "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" (1946) advocated that parents should trust their instincts and treat each child as an individual.

When he was 21 and a student at Yale University, Benjamin Spock won a gold medal in rowing at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games. He continued rowing throughout his life until he was well into his 80's.

In 1972, he ran for President of the United States as the nominee for the People's Party and was their vice presidential candidate in 1976. Their party platform was anti-war, favouring the withdrawal of American troops from all foreign countries. (Dr Spock was an outspoken opponent of the war in Viet Nam). The People's Party also advocated a guaranteed minimum wage, free medical care, and the legalization of abortion and marijuana.

Answer: Johnny Weissmuller

Representing America at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games, Johnny Weissmuller won three gold medals in swimming and one bronze medal in the men's water polo. At the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games, he won two gold medals in swimming. During his swimming career, in addition to his Olympic medals, he also set numerous world records. When he finally retired from his swimming career, he had never lost a race.

Weissmuller's second career as an actor began in 1932 when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) were looking for someone to play the lead in their "Tarzan" movie. He ticked all the boxes - outstanding swimmer, good physique, good-looking, and a reasonable (albeit inexperienced) actor who was comfortable wearing a minimum of clothing. He starred in 12 Tarzan movies -- 6 for MGM and 6 for RKO. He originated the famous Tarzan yell/yodel. Weissmuller is quoted as saying that playing Tarzan came naturally to him because "There was swimming in it, and I didn't have much to say."

Answer: Harold Sakata

Harold Sakata (born Toshiyuki Sakata) represented America in the 1948 London Olympic Games where he won a silver medal for weightlifting. He also had a professional career as a wrestler, going by the name of Tosh Togo.

His acting career began when the producers of the James Bond movies, Albert ("Cubby") Broccoli and Harry Saltzmann, saw him in a wrestling match and decided that his appearance was perfect for the role of Oddjob, Auric Goldfinger's henchman, in their movie, "Goldfinger". His trademark was a razor-sharp steel-rimmed bowler hat which he could throw with deadly accuracy.

Sakata had no acting experience (other than as a wrestler) but fortunately the character of Oddjob was mute, so there were no lines to learn. The role of Oddjob led to many more roles in movies, television and advertising.

Answer: George Smith Patton

George Smith Patton participated in the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games, competing in the first-ever modern pentathlon, which comprised fencing, freestyle swimming, riding (show jumping), pistol shooting and cross country running.

The 42 pentathletes were all military officers. Patton was the US Army's entrant and the only American competitor. He came fifth, after four Swedish competitors. Patton was scheduled to compete in the 1916 Berlin Olympics but those games were cancelled due to World War I.

General Patton, nicknamed "Old Blood and Guts", is better known as one of the most successful and aggressive generals in U.S. history. He fought in both World Wars and attained the rank of 4-star general.

Answer: Anne Mountbatten-Windsor

Princess Anne is the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. She is an active working royal, often representing the Queen at official functions. For her substantial charitable works, she was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1990. (She lost to Mikhail Gorbachev, President of the Soviet Union).

Princess Anne was the first British Royal to compete in the Olympic Games. In the 1976 Montreal Games, she was a member of Great Britain's equestrian team but she did not win any medals. She competed in "Eventing" (a three-day competition comprising dressage, show-jumping and cross-country). She has also served on a number of Olympic Committees, including the IOC (International Olympic Committee).

Answer: Caitlyn Jenner

Caitlyn Marie Jenner was born as William Bruce Jenner. As a man, Bruce Jenner was well-known as an American athlete who won a gold medal in the Men's Decathlon (ten track and field events) at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.

However, he is probably better known for his connection to the "famous just for being famous" Kardashian family, having married Kristen (Kris) Kardashian and thus becoming stepfather to Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Robert Kardashian, and father to Kendall and Kylie Jenner.

After the Olympics, Jenner established a career in the media and business. In 2015, Bruce Jenner "came out" publicly as Caitlyn Marie Jenner, a trans-gender woman. In 2016, MSNBC declared Caitlyn Jenner to be "the most famous transgender woman in history". Since coming out, Jenner has been pursuing a career in politics, with a particular interest in trans-gender rights. "USA Today" (2016) quotes Jenner as saying "I have gotten more flak for being a conservative Republican than I have for being trans".

Answer: Buster Crabbe

Buster was born as Clarence Linden Crabbe II. He represented the United States twice at the Olympic Games in freestyle swimming. He won a bronze medal at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics and a gold medal at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.

Like Johnny Weismuller, Buster Crabbe's prowess as a swimmer led to a career in movies. As athletes, both competed at the 1928 Olympics, but they competed in different events. As actors, both portrayed Tarzan, Weismuller for the first time in 1932 in "Tarzan the Ape Man" and Buster Crabbe for the first (and only time) in 1933 in "Tarzan the Fearless".

Buster Crabbe also portrayed popular sci-fi heroes Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon, as well as the outlaw Billy the Kid. His movie/television career spanned five decades, from 1930 to 1982.

Answer: Hillary Wolf

Hillary Wolf differs from the other actors mentioned in this quiz in that her acting career preceded her Olympic career instead of following it. She is best known in her role as Megan, sister to the main character, Kevin MacCallister (played by Macaulay Culkin) in the "Home Alone movies". After "Home Alone 2" (1992), she retired from acting to concentrate on her studies and judo.

Hillary Wolf subsequently represented the United States as a member of the judo team. She competed in the Olympic Games in 1996 (Atlanta) and 2000 (Sydney) but did not win any medals.

Answer: Emperor Nero

In July 64 A.D. the Great Fire of Rome destroyed two-thirds of the city. The legends are that the Emperor Nero actually started the fire and that he "fiddled while Rome burned", although there is no evidence for either claim. (Not to mention the fact that the fiddle did not exist in Ancient Rome). Like many of the Roman emperors, Nero is remembered mostly for being a cruel, corrupt, extravagant tyrant.

Nero competed in the 67 A.D. Olympic Games -- which should have been held in 66 A.D. but Nero forced the organisers to delay the games for his convenience. Nero introduced a number of artistic competitions, including music, acting, and singing, and naturally he won every competition in which he entered.

The Emperor Nero also entered a chariot race in the Olympics. His chariot had ten horses (when the limit was four). He nearly died after being thrown from his chariot but declared himself the winner of the race anyway on the grounds that if he had completed the race, he would have won.

As Greece was occupied by Rome at the time, the organisers had no choice but to accede to Nero's ego. However, after his death in 68 A.D., the "Neronian Olympiad" awards were declared void.

Answer: Ben Nighthorse Campbell

Ben Nighthorse Campbell (born Benny Marshall Campbell) competed in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games as a member of the United States judo team. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury just prior to the Games and as a result did not win any medals.

After the Olympics, he undertook a long career in politics. He represented Colorado in the House of Representatives as a Democrat (1987-1993) and in the Senate as both a Democrat (1993-1995) and a Republican (1995-2005). He was well-known as a champion of Native American rights and issues, including acting as Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee (1997-2001 and 2003-2005).