Classic Olympic Moments
Instructions: How well do you know these legendary Olympic moments?
- 1.
Which American track star won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, embarrassing Adolf Hitler's claims of Aryan supremacy?
AArchie WilliamsBJesse OwensCMack RobinsonDRalph Metcalfe - 2.
At which Olympics did the U.S. men's hockey team achieve the 'Miracle on Ice' by defeating the Soviet Union?
A1984 SarajevoB1976 InnsbruckC1988 CalgaryD1980 Lake Placid - 3.
Which gymnast scored the first perfect 10 in Olympic history at the 1976 Montreal Games?
AOlga KorbutBMary Lou RettonCLudmilla TourischevaDNadia Comaneci - 4.
What controversial event occurred during the 1972 Munich Olympics men's basketball final between the USA and Soviet Union?
AThe game went to five overtimesBBoth teams boycotted the medal ceremonyCThe clock was reset three times in the final secondsDA player was ejected for fighting - 5.
Which boxer lit the Olympic cauldron at the 1996 Atlanta Games despite trembling from Parkinson's disease?
AJoe FrazierBGeorge ForemanCSugar Ray LeonardDMuhammad Ali - 6.
At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, what did Tommie Smith and John Carlos do on the medal podium that became an iconic symbol of protest?
ATurned their backs to the flagBRefused to accept their medalsCRaised black-gloved fistsDWore protest t-shirts - 7.
Which American decathlete, who won gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, was declared 'the world's greatest athlete'?
ABill ToomeyBBruce JennerCBob MathiasDRafer Johnson - 8.
What happened to American sprinter Mary Decker during the women's 3000m final at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics?
AShe false-started and was disqualifiedBShe broke the world recordCShe collided with Zola Budd and fellDShe was tripped by a lane judge - 9.
Which swimmer won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics, setting a record that stood for 36 years?
AMatt BiondiBDon SchollanderCJohnny WeissmullerDMark Spitz - 10.
At which Olympics did American Bob Beamon shatter the long jump world record by nearly two feet?
A1976 MontrealB1968 Mexico CityC1964 TokyoD1972 Munich - 11.
Which country boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, leading many Western nations to follow?
AUnited StatesBGreat BritainCWest GermanyDFrance - 12.
Which American gymnast stuck a near-perfect vault landing on an injured ankle to clinch team gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics?
AKerri StrugBDominique MoceanuCDominique DawesDShannon Miller - 13.
At the 1960 Rome Olympics, which 18-year-old American boxer won the light heavyweight gold medal and later became one of the most famous athletes in history?
AFloyd PattersonBJoe FrazierCSugar Ray RobinsonDCassius Clay - 14.
Which runner, despite torn ligaments, was helped across the finish line by his father at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics?
ACarl LewisBLinford ChristieCMichael JohnsonDDerek Redmond - 15.
Which figure skater won Olympic gold in 1948 and 1952 and later starred in her own Hollywood ice shows?
ADorothy HamillBCarol HeissCSonja HenieDPeggy Fleming
Answer Key
Jesse Owens won gold in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and 4x100m relay at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. His victories are considered one of the greatest repudiations of Nazi racial ideology.
The 1980 'Miracle on Ice' saw a team of young American college players defeat the heavily favored Soviet team 4-3 at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. Al Michaels' call 'Do you believe in miracles? Yes!' became iconic.
Nadia Comaneci of Romania scored seven perfect 10s at the 1976 Montreal Olympics at just 14 years old. The scoreboard wasn't even designed to display a 10.00, showing 1.00 instead.
In one of the most controversial moments in Olympic history, officials put three seconds back on the clock multiple times, ultimately allowing the Soviet Union to score the winning basket. The U.S. team refused to accept their silver medals.
Muhammad Ali's lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the 1996 Atlanta Games was one of the most emotional moments in Olympic history. Despite his trembling hands from Parkinson's, he held the torch steady to light the flame.
Tommie Smith (gold) and John Carlos (bronze) raised black-gloved fists during the national anthem in a Black Power salute. The image became one of the most powerful political statements in sports history.
Bruce Jenner won the decathlon gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics with a world-record score of 8,618 points. Jenner became an American cultural icon and appeared on the Wheaties box.
In one of the most heartbreaking Olympic moments, Mary Decker collided with barefoot South African-born runner Zola Budd during the 3000m final and fell to the track, ending her Olympic dream. The incident became a defining moment of the 1984 Games.
Mark Spitz won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics, setting world records in each event. His record stood until Michael Phelps won eight golds at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Bob Beamon jumped 29 feet 2.5 inches at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, beating the existing world record by 21.75 inches. The record stood for 23 years and is considered one of the greatest athletic achievements ever.
The United States led a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. About 65 countries joined the boycott, and the Soviet Union retaliated by boycotting the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Kerri Strug landed her second vault on a badly sprained ankle, scoring 9.712 to secure the first-ever team gold for the U.S. women's gymnastics team. Coach Bela Karolyi carrying her to the podium became an iconic image.
Cassius Clay, who later changed his name to Muhammad Ali, won the light heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics at age 18. It launched the career of arguably the greatest boxer who ever lived.
British sprinter Derek Redmond tore his hamstring during the 400m semi-final. His father, Jim, ran onto the track and helped him finish the race. The moment became one of the most touching in Olympic history.
Sonja Henie of Norway actually won three consecutive Olympic golds in 1928, 1932, and 1936 before becoming a Hollywood star. Dick Button was the American who won men's figure skating gold in both 1948 and 1952.