Every two years, the world comes together in celebration of the Olympic Games.
Established in Greece, the Olympics have been around for thousands of years. While they've certainly evolved over time, one thing has remained the same: The spirit of competition.
To pay tribute to the Paris Games, we've collected a list of Olympics trivia questions and answers to test your knowledge on sports, athletes and other Olympic-related topics.
For example, did you know that according to the International Olympic Committee, around 2,900 athletes (representing roughly 90 countries), gathered in Beijing for the Winter Olympic Games? In 2024, it's expected that nearly 10,500 athletes from approximately 200 countries will converge on Paris for the Summer Games.
While these amazing athletes participate in a variety of Olympic sports, including gymnastics, tennis, skiing, figure skating, swimming, diving, track and field, basketball, soccer, skateboarding and breaking (to name just a few), they all share one thing in common: the dream of standing on the podium.
Whether you're a sports fan or simply want to be in the moment, read on to learn more about the games, the athletes who have made their mark and a host of other fun trivia facts.
By the time you're done, your Olympic knowledge will be worth its weight in gold.
Olympics Trivia Questions and Answers
- How many times have the Olympics been hosted in Paris? Answer: Three (1900, 1924, 2024)
- Approximately how many competitors are expected to compete in the Paris 2024 Games? Answer: 10,500
- In 1988, a four-man bobsleigh team from this tropical country made their historic debut at the Calgary, Alberta Games. Answer: Jamaica
- Which modern Olympics were the first to use the Olympic Torch Relay? Answer: Berlin 1936 Games
- To date, how many cities have hosted the Olympic Winter Games? Answer: 21
- Which country has hosted the Summer Olympic Games the most? Answer: The United States (St. Louis 1904, Los Angeles 1932 and 1984, and Atlanta 1996).
- How many countries have hosted the Summer Olympic Games? Answer: 23
- Who was the first female Olympian to win a gold medal? Answer: Hélène de Pourtalès for sailing
- Who was the first female American to win a gold medal at the games? Answer: Margaret Abbott for golf
- According to Guinness World Records, which Olympics drew the largest TV audience in history? Answer: Beijing 2008 Summer Games
- Which nation was the first to host the Summer and Winter Games in the same year? Answer: France (1924)
- What is the Paris 2024 Olympic mascot? Answer: Based on the French ‘liberty hat,’ it's the Phryge
- Which Winter Games hosted the historic “Miracle on Ice” hockey game between the U.S. and Soviet Union in 1980? Answer: Lake Placid
- The 2028 Summer Games will be held in Los Angeles. Where will the 2032 Olympics be hosted? Answer: Brisbane, Australia
- The London 1948 Games were the last time this surprising category was represented at the Olympics. Answer: Art
- Where were the first Olympic Games hosted back in 776 BC? Answer: Olympia (Greece)
- What was the first U.S. city and state to host the Olympics? Answer: St. Louis, Missouri
- With 18 medals, who is the most decorated female Olympian of all time? Answer: Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina
- Where were the first Olympic Winter Games held in 1924? Answer: Chamonix, France
- True or false. In Ancient Greek times, Olympic athletes competed naked. Answer: True
- What year did Paris last host the Olympic Games? Answer: 1924
- As of 2024, athletes from how many National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will compete in the Summer Games? Answer: 206
- How many sports will be represented in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games? Answer: 32
- The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in which two Italian cities? Answer: Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo
- What figure skater is the most decorated in U.S. history? Answer: Michelle Kwan
- What year were women first permitted to compete in the Olympic Games? Answer: 1900
- What five sports were women allowed to participate in during the 1900 Paris Olympics? Answer: Tennis, sailing, croquet, golf and equestrianism
- Which country has the most Olympic gold medals? Answer: The United States with 1022
- With 28 medals, who is the most decorated Olympian of all time? Answer: Michael Phelps
- How many gold medals has Team USA won in basketball? Answer: 25 (men 16, women 9)
- Where will the 2028 Summer Olympic Games take place? Answer: Los Angeles
- Los Angeles has hosted the Olympics twice. Which two years did the previous games take place? Answer: 1932 and 1984
- Making its debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics, this sport is based on a style of dance introduced in New York City in the 1970s. Answer: Breaking
- What female athlete holds the record for the most gold medals won in a single Olympics? Answer: German swimmer, Kristin Otto
- Who is the youngest female athlete to win an individual Olympic medal? Answer: Denmark's Inge Sorensen won for the breaststroke in 1936 at the age of 12
- Who is the youngest male athlete to win an individual Olympic medal? Answer: Nils Skoglund of Denmark won for diving in 1920 at the age of 14
- Who is the oldest male athlete to win an Olympic gold medal? Answer: Sweden's Oscar Swahn took gold for shooting in 1920 at the age of 72
- Who is the oldest female athlete to win an Olympic gold medal? Answer: Eliza Pollock of the U.S. picked up a gold for archery in 1904 at the age of 63
- The first modern-day Olympic Games were held in 1896 in what Greek city? Answer: Athens
- What Canadian equestrian holds the record for most Olympic appearances? Answer: Ian Millar with 10
- Which U.S. gymnast memorably injured her ankle vaulting but still scored high enough to win the gold for Team USA in 1996? Answer: Kerri Strug
- Skateboarding made its debut in which Olympic Games? Answer: Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021)
- Which Olympic Games were the first to be televised? Answer: Berlin 1936
- Initially started as a recreational sport for American soldiers during World War II, what sport will make its debut in Los Angeles 2028 games? Answer: Flag football
- An Olympic sport through 1920, what game involves two teams pulling on a rope in a test of strength? Answer: Tug-of-war
- The first Great Britain diver to win four Olympics medals, Tom Daley is also known for engaging in what sideline hobby? Answer: Knitting
- At the age of 14, this Romanian gymnast scored seven perfect 10.0 at the 1976 Olympic Games. Answer: Nadia Comaneci
- With a combined 37 world championships and Olympic medals, this woman is one of most decorated gymnasts of all time. Answer: Simone Biles
- This notable athlete made track-and-field history in 1936 when he won four gold medals in Berlin and helped set a new world relay record. Answer: Jesse Owens
- Nicknamed “Wiggo,” this British bicyclist made history when he won both the Tour de France and Olympic gold in 2012. Answer: Bradley Wiggins
- This Jamaican athlete holds the record for being the fastest man in history. Answer: Usain Bolt
- Twin brothers, Pavol and Peter Hochschorner of Slovakia, won three consecutive gold medals between 2000 and 2008 in what Olympic sport? Answer: Canoeing
- How many Olympic medals has tennis player Venus Williams won? Answer: Four gold and one silver
- How many Olympic medals has tennis player Serena Williams won? Answer: Four gold
- This University of Connecticut basketball coach led the U.S. women's national basketball team to gold medals in 2012 and 2016. Answer: Geno Auriemma
- Earning 15 Olympic medals, Marit Bjørgen is the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time. In what sport did she make her mark? Answer: Cross-country skiing
- What year did the U.S. boycott the Summer Olympics in Moscow? Answer: 1980
- In July of 1996, this renowned athlete lit the Olympic torch commencing the Atlanta Summer Olympics. Answer: Muhammad Ali
- What are the five colors of the Olympic rings? Answer: Blue, yellow, black, green and red
- What are the five rings intended to represent? Answer: The five parts of the world (Africa, Asia, Australia, the Americas and Europe)
- Known as "America's sweetheart," this Olympic gymnast took home five medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games. Answer: Mary-Lou Retton
- At 15, this iconic swimmer made her debut in the London 2012 games and has since gone on to win a total of 10 Olympic medals. Answer: Katie Ledecky
- Jagger Eaton took home the bronze in the Tokyo 2020 games (held in 2021). In what sport did he medal? Answer: Skateboarding
- This American diver won double gold medals in diving during the 1984 Los Angeles games. Answer: Greg Louganis
- Known for his backflip on ice, this figure skater took home the gold medal in the Lake Placid 1980 Winter Games. Answer: Scott Hamilton
