Sports Mix Alphabetically - the T's Quiz

Answer: Daley Thompson

Thompson, from London, England, first came to prominence when he won gold at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. In 1980, in Moscow, he won his first Olympic gold medal, finishing 164 points ahead of the Soviet Union's Yuriy Kutsenko. Four years later, in Los Angeles, he succesfully defended his title, setting a new Olympic record on his way to defeating West Germany's Jurgen Hingsen.

Answer: Gene Tunney

Tunney, from New York, defeated Jack Dempsey in 1926 to become world heavyweight champion. The following year, at Soldier Field in Chicago, the two fighters had a re-match. Dempsey knocked Tunney down in the seventh round, but the referee would not commence the count until Dempsey had retreated to his corner.

This additional time gave Tunney the chance to recover, even though he had been on the canvas longer then the manadatory ten seconds. Tunney would go on to win the fight on points. He made just one more defence of his title, vs Tom Heeney, before retiring as champion.

Answer: Ian Thorpe

Thorpe, from Sydney, excelled when the Olympics were held in his home city. He won gold in the 400 m freestyle and both the 4 x 100 m and 4 x 200 m freestyle relays. Four years later, in Athens, he successfully defended his 400 m freestyle title, and won gold in the 200 m freestlye as well.

Answer: Bobby Thomson

Thomson was born in Scotland, but emigrated to the USA with his family when he was just two years old. He made his MLB debut with the New York Giants in 1946 as a third baseman, before switching to the outfield for his first full season in 1947. In 1951, the Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers had finished the regular season with identical 96-58 win-loss records atop the National League standings, so a three-game play-off was held to decide which team would advance to the World Series.

The first two games saw each team win once, so everything came down to the deciding game at the Polo Grounds.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, with the Giants trailing 2-4, Thomson hit a three-run homer to snatch victory for his team - Russ Hodges' famous radio broadcast when he repeatedly screamed "The Giants Win the Pennant!" has gone down in baseball folklore.

There was to be no fairytale ending to the season for Thomson however, as the New York Yankees would defeat his team in the World Series.

Answer: Peter Thomson

Thomson, from Australia, turned Pro in 1947, and was a prolific winner in Australasia in the early part of his career. After finishing runner-up in the British Open in both 1952 and 1953, he won the Claret Jug for the first time in 1954, beating Dai Rees, Sid Scott and Bobby Locke by a single shot at Royal Birkdale.

In 1955, he beat Johnny Fallon by two strokes at St Andrews. In 1956, he became the first player to win in three consecutive years since Bob Ferguson, in 1882, when he defeated Flory van Donck by three strokes at Royal Liverpool.

The following year, back at St Andrews, he almost became the first player ever to win in four straight years, but Bobby Locke beat him into second place by three strokes. Thomson won two further British Open crowns - in 1958, at Royal Lytham, and in 1965, at Royal Birkdale. The other three golfers did not win three back-to-back titles: Lee Trevino won consecutive titles in 1971 & 1972; John Henry Taylor won four titles (1894-95, 1900 & 1909); and David Toms never won a British Open during the 20th century.

Answer: Tennessee

Tennessee is nicknamed The Volunteer State, thus the moniker for their sports teams. Based in Knoxville, the school is a member of the Southeastern Conference. The University's gridiron team won six national championships in the 20th century (1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1968, and 1998). The women's basketball squad, led by coach Pat Summitt, won eight NCAA crowns between 1987 and 2008.

Answer: Table Tennis

The Swaythling Cup is awarded to the men's team world champions, with the Corbillon Cup going to the the women's team winners. Teams from China dominated both events in the latter years of the 20th century and early 21st century, with Singapore's victory in 2010 ending a run of eight straight titles for the Chinese women.

Answer: Alberto Tomba

Tomba, from Bologna, Italy, made his Olympic debut in Calgary, in 1988. He won gold medals in both the slalom and giant slalom events. In 1992, in Albertville, he retained his giant slalom title, but had to settle for silver in the slalom. He won another silver medal in the slalom in Lillehammer, in 1994, but by 1998, in Nagano, his best days were behind him and he failed to add to his medal tally.

Answer: Fran Tarkenton

Tarkenton played college football for Georgia before being drafted by the Vikings in 1961. After making the Pro Bowl twice in his early career, he was traded to the New York Giants in 1967, but returned to Minnesota in 1972. Tarkenton would lead the Vikings to Superbowls VIII, IX and XI (1974, 1975 and 1977), but wound up on the losing side on each occasion.

He retired from the game following the 1978 season, having made nine Pro Bowl appearances, and winning the NFL MVP award once, in 1975.

Answer: Jayne Torvill

Torvill, from Nottingham, England, first teamed up with Dean in 1975. The pair won their first world title in 1981, and successfully defended it in each of the next three years. In Sarajevo, in 1984, they ice danced to Ravel's "Bolero" on their way to twelve perfect 6.0 marks and an Olympic gold medal.

The pair turned professional shortly afterwards so were unable to defend their title in 1988. After the rules on amateurism were changed, they made a comeback at the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, where they won bronze.