Sensational Sports Figures Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Great One

Wayne Gretzky is widely known as 'The Great One', a nickname that suits his extraordinary impact on ice hockey. The Canadian centre became one of the most dominant players in NHL history and remains the league's all-time leader in goals, assists and points. He won the Stanley Cup four times with the Edmonton Oilers.

Wayne's influence extended beyond statistics. His ability to read the game and anticipate where the puck would be rather than simply chase it became one of the defining features of his playing style. Even after retiring, he remained one of hockey's most recognisable ambassadors.

Answer: John McEnroe

John McEnroe became famous for both his extraordinary tennis ability and his fiery temperament on court. He won seven Grand Slam singles titles, including three Wimbledon titles, and was particularly renowned for his exceptional touch, precise serving and remarkable skill at the net.

Away from singles competition, John was also an outstanding doubles player. His confrontational personality made him one of tennis's most memorable characters, while his distinctive left-handed style helped make him a major star of the sport during its golden television era.

Answer: Miami Dolphins

Don Shula is remembered as one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. He coached the Miami Dolphins for most of his career after previously leading the Baltimore Colts, and the Dolphins became one of the defining teams of his coaching era.

Don's greatest achievement came with the Dolphins' perfect championship season, when they completed an undefeated campaign. His long career was marked by remarkable consistency, and his 347 victories set a record for the most by an NFL head coach.

Answer: Richard Petty

Richard Petty is one of the biggest names in NASCAR and is known as 'The King'. He became famous for his distinctive blue-and-red race cars and his extraordinary success on the NASCAR circuit. Petty competed for decades and became one of the sport's most recognisable personalities.

His influence didn't end when he left the driver's seat. The Petty name remained closely associated with NASCAR through Richard Petty Motorsports and the Richard Petty Driving Experience, while his famous cowboy hat and sunglasses became almost as recognisable as his racing career.

Answer: Manassa Mauler

'The Manassa Mauler', Jack Dempsey, was one of boxing's most famous heavyweight champions. The nickname referred to his birthplace of Manassa, Colorado, while 'Mauler' reflected his aggressive style in the ring.

Jack became a major sporting celebrity during the 1920s, when heavyweight boxing attracted enormous public attention. His fights drew huge crowds and helped turn professional boxing into a major form of mass entertainment in the United States.

Answer: Secretariat

Secretariat's spectacular performances during the American Triple Crown made him a sporting legend, and his famous victory in the Belmont Stakes became one of horse racing's most celebrated moments. He is regarded as one of the greatest racehorses in history.

His story also reached audiences who knew little about racing. Secretariat became known for his striking chestnut colouring and powerful racing style, and his remarkable career inspired books, documentaries and the feature film "Secretariat".

Answer: The Golden Bear

Jack Nicklaus, better known by his nickname 'The Golden Bear,' is regarded as one of the greatest golfers ever. His professional career produced an unmatched record of major championship victories, including wins at all four of golf's major tournaments.

Jack was also successful away from competitive golf. He became a highly respected golf-course designer and has been involved in numerous charitable projects, particularly those supporting children's healthcare. His influence on golf therefore continued long after his playing career.

Answer: Philadelphia Warriors

One of basketball's most dominant players, Wilt Chamberlain played for the Philadelphia Warriors early in his NBA career. The Warriors franchise later moved to San Francisco and eventually became the Golden State Warriors. Chamberlain also played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers.

Wilt was famous for his extraordinary scoring and rebounding ability. His size, strength and athleticism made him a hugely difficult opponent, and his achievements helped establish him as one of the most iconic centres in NBA history.

Answer: It was divided into separate American League and National League awards

One of the outstanding pitchers of baseball's early era, Cy Young's name has become permanently associated with pitching excellence. The Cy Young Award was created in his honour and is presented to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball.

The award was originally presented to a single pitcher representing all of Major League Baseball. It was later divided so that pitchers in the American League and National League could each receive their own award, making Cy Young's name familiar even to fans who never saw him play.

Answer: Judo

Kano Jigoro was the Japanese educator and martial artist who founded judo. He developed the discipline from earlier Japanese martial-arts traditions, placing particular emphasis on technique, efficiency, discipline and personal development.

Kano also believed that martial arts could have educational value beyond physical training. Judo eventually spread internationally and became one of Japan's best-known cultural contributions to the sporting world, while Kano himself became an important figure in the development of Japanese physical education.