Sports Upsets Trivia

1. The 2018 FIFA World Cup was the third tournament in a row in which a surprising event took place, involving the reigning champions. What was it?

From Quiz This Can't Be Happening

Answer: They failed to get through the group stage

People jokingly started to talk about the curse of the FIFA champions when Germany got eliminated in the group stage in 2018, after winning 2014's cup with an impressive performance and thus being the favorites to win it again. Before the Germans, the same thing happened to Spain (2010 champions, eliminated in 2014 in the first round) and Italy (2006 champions, 2010 elimination). If it wasn't for Brazil in 2006, the curse would have gone back to the start of the 21st century, since France, champions in 1998, suffered the same fate as the three above in 2002.

From Quiz Down the Stretch They Come

Answer: Olympic Short Track Speed Skating

Australian Bradbury was nowhere near the pace of the other competitors and so deliberately adopted a tactic of hanging back in case of a crash, so he could take advantage. This worked well for him in the semi final when defending champion Kim Dong-Sung crashed along with the aforementioned Li and Turcotte allowing him to advance to the final, where unbelievably the tactic worked again, meaning he became the first winter Olympic gold medal winner in the history of Australia.

From Quiz Throwing in the Towel

Answer: Johnny Miller

Miller surprised everyone when he won his third Pro-Am at Pebble Beach in 1994 at the age of 46, becoming the only golfer ever to win that particular contest in three different decades. To be honest, even Miller was shocked at this outcome. He was even more stunned when he counted up all tournaments he'd won at the Pebble Beach golf course, because it was his fourth in four decades. Tom Watson was the golfer who almost robbed Miller of this sweet victory. After three rounds (68-72-67), Miller was facing a final round, one stroke behind Dudley Hart and one stroke ahead of Tom Watson. Anyone might have thought that Miller could choke (or throw in the towel, so to speak), and three- or four-putt in the final round at Pebble Beach, because many have had a hard time playing consistently at that beautiful but difficult course. Instead, Miller won a surprisingly gratifying hard-won triumph over Watson, who had had a one-stroke lead when there were only three holes left to play. This was a wondrous end to an amazing career with 24 PGA Tour victories, with the last two coming at Pebble Beach Golf Links for Miller. Thank goodness he didn't throw in the towel!

From Quiz Sporting Firsts

Answer: Lucient Laurent

The very first FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930. The hosts went on to win the competition. Lucien Laurent scored in a 4-1 French victory over Mexico.

From Quiz Back on Track

Answer: He set three world records in 45 minutes.

On May 25, 1935, at a Big Ten meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jesse Owens set world records for the long jump (26ft 8.25in), 220-yard sprint (20.3s), and 220-yard low hurdles (22.6s). He also tied the world record for the 100-yard dash, at 9.4s.

From Quiz Do Mention It!

Answer: Nadia Comaneci

As a fourteen-year-old representing Romania, Comaneci scored the perfect ten and a gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, for her performance on the uneven bars. She also won two more gold medals at Montreal. Omega SA, the company which supplied timing equipment to the games, asked if the scoreboards for the gymnastics events should be capable of registering a 10.00 score. Olympic officials told them no because a 10 was thought unattainable. Comaneci's score on the uneven bars had to be shown on the scoreboards as 1.00.

From Quiz Stacked Odds

Answer: 1980

The American team was consisted of amateurs and college players. They were not expected to advance out of the group stage, however they defeated the Russians 4-3 who at the time were a world power in hockey. This game is widely regarded as one of the biggest upsets in USA sports history. It is popularity known as the "Miracle on Ice".

From Quiz They Did It Again!

Answer: Duke Blue Devils

Remembered by many sports analysts as simply "The Shot", Laettner fired off a jump shot at the buzzer, propelling the Blue Devils to a 104-103 win over the Wildcats. Duke went on to defeat Indiana before pulling off an impressive twenty point victory over the Michigan Wolverines in the title game. "Coach K" followed up his second national title by serving as assistant coach for the gold medal winning USA Olympic team the same year. Laettner was joined by, among others, Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, and Patrick Ewing in Barcelona that summer.

From Quiz One-Sided

Answer: Japan

New Zealand demolished the Japanese side. New Zealand centre Marc Ellis scored 6 tries in the match and flyhalf Simon Culhane kicked 20 out of 21 conversions.

From Quiz Some Things Never Change

Answer: Manchester United

One man instantly springs to mind when discussions arise regarding the Manchester United team of the 1990s and the 2000s and that is Sir Alex Ferguson. Scottish born but a Mancunian at heart, Sir Alex Ferguson presided over thirteen of the club's Premier League titles. The Premier League's inaugural season was contested in 1992-93 and apart from Manchester United, only two other clubs (Blackburn Rovers and Arsenal) managed to take the title in any of the seasons of the 1990s.

From Quiz ONE

Answer: Billy Martin

The Yankees have retired more than any other MLB franchise. The first number retired by the Yankees was Lou Gehrig's #4, on Independence Day 1939. Nearly a decade later, in 1948, Babe Ruth's #3 was added to the wall behind the left field fence in the old Yankee Stadium. Joe DiMaggio's #5 joined the collection in 1952 and Mickey Mantle's #7 was added in 1969. The Yankees retired the #8 shirt in 1972 in honour of two former catchers and managers, Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey. The Yankees retired the #1 shirt in 1986 in honour of former second baseman and manager Billy Martin.

From Quiz Don't Trip Up!

Answer: Mary Decker

Mary Decker tripped over Zola Budd's leg, after she had trodden on Budd's heel. (Budd was running in bare feet, as was her custom). Decker strained a thigh muscle and neither girl was able to continue. While Budd was initally disqualified, upon further reviewing the footage, the judges reinstated her.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders - In Sport

Answer: US Open

Moody, from Oklahoma, turned pro in 1967, and achieved his only tour success at the 1969 US Open. At the Champions Golf Club in Houston, he prevailed by one stroke from Deane Beman, Al Geiberger and Bob Rosburg. He tied for seventh in that year's PGA Championship, the only other occasion when he finished in the top ten of a Major.

From Quiz Winning or Obliterating?

Answer: 47-0

Even though Canada won this preliminary game forty-seven over nada over the Denmark team and their other first round matchup seven - zip over Austria, they failed to win the Championship Final which was won by Czechoslovakia three to two over Canada. The loss left Canada with the silver medal, who was heavily favoured to win the gold. The Czechs, who took the gold were considered surprise winners due to the tragedy only three months earlier when a plane went missing in the English Channel with six of their key players aboard. It was only the third time the Canadians had ever lost a World Hockey Championship and only the second time Czechoslovakia had ever won a World Title. Canada was represented in 1949 by the Sudbury Wolves.

From Quiz How'd You Screw That One Up?

Answer: He overslept

Esajas was an 800 metre specialist and his country had high hopes for him. When he didn't appear it was reported that he'd overslept and missed his big day. Esajas denied this and for years his protestations fell on deaf ears. He became bitter about it and walked away from his sport. Turning to study, he earned a diploma in horticulture and became a floriculturist. Eventually he would make a name for himself creating plant barges from recycled old tyres. He passed away in 2005 but two weeks prior to his death it was revealed that he had not been at fault in the Olympic mishap. Rather, the team's Olympic Committee Secretary General had mistakenly informed him that his heat was scheduled for the afternoon and not the morning. Esajas was presented with a letter of apology from his country and received a plaque honouring him as his country's first Olympian.

From Quiz That's Perfect!

Answer: 300

The highest score in ten-pin bowling is 300, which would mean a player scored 12 consecutive strikes (one in each of the ten frames, and two more on the extra rolls in the tenth frame).

From Quiz Never Say Never

Answer: Buffalo Bills

Leading 7-3 at quarter time, the Oilers piled on 21 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a commanding 25 point half time lead, which was soon extended to 32. An amazing 28-7 third quarter going the other way suddenly turned the match into an enthralling contest.

From Quiz It Never Happened

Answer: P. T. Usha

P. T. Usha qualified for the finals by topping the semifinals. But she faltered. For only 1/100th of second he could not win a medal. It never happened.

From Quiz Lead the Pack

Answer: Cal Ripken Jr.

Ripken broke Gehrig's record of 2,130 games played in a row on September 6, 1995. On that night Ripken hit a home run, that was called on local radio by US President Bill Clinton. The streak continued for 500 more games over the next four seasons until Ripken removed himself from the Orioles' final game in 1998. He played the entire streak at shortstop, with some time at third base.

From Quiz Dreaming the Impossible Dream

Answer: Brooklyn Dodgers

Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play Major League Baseball when he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers against the Boston Braves and opened the way for many great players of colour to follow. Hank Aaron summed up this achievement when, in an article for "Time Magazine", he said "Before Jackie Robinson broke the colour line, I wasn't permitted even to think about being a professional baseball player. I once mentioned something about it to my father and he said "Ain't no coloured ballplayers. All that changed when Jackie put on #42 and started stealing bases in a Dodger's uniform."

From Quiz Can't Join Them? Beat Them!

Answer: Man O' War

Man O' War finished his career with a 20-1 record. He was able to capture both the Belmont and the Preakness Stakes in 1920, but was never able to capture the crown jewel, the Kentucky Derby. The legendary horse died in 1947.

From Quiz So Little Time

Answer: Zach Parise

Zach Parise scored in the final minute, bringing the score to two all. The game went into overtime with sudden death, that is the first team to score would win. After seven minutes and forty seconds, Sidney Crosby scored for Canada, giving the gold medal to the home team. Ryan Kessler scored America's opening goal in the final, and Corey Perry scored Canada's second goal.

From Quiz It Was the Best of Sporting Times

Answer: Boston Americans

The Boston Americans, later to become the Boston Red Sox, represented the American League in an upset victory over the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates, 5 games to 3 (in a best-of-nine series). The New York Yankees, on the other hand, have been by far the most successful franchise in the game. Their first championship, however, did not occur until 1923. The Texas rangers were formed in 1961,and the Seattle Mariners in 1977.

From Quiz Patron Saints of Sports

Answer: Franco Harris

Franco Harris was named the 1972 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. He went on to win four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers and was named Super Bowl MVP once. But he will always be remembered most for his catch, the "Immaculate Reception", and for this he has been canonized 'The Patron Saint of the Immaculate Reception'.

From Quiz Perfect Scores of the Ages

Answer: 0

A perfect game of bowling requires 12 strikes.

From Quiz How Very Sporting

Answer: German

Owens foot-faulted twice in the qualifying stage and would have been disqualified had he foot-faulted a third time. His greatest rival, the German Lutz Long, advised Owens to mark out his run-up again. Owens did so and went on to win gold. Lutz had to settle for the silver. Afterwards, Owens said, "You can melt down all the medals and cups I have won and they wouldn't be worth the plating on the 24-carat friendship I felt for Lutz Long at that moment."

From Quiz My Sporting Heroes

Answer: Archie Moore

Rocky had 49 wins from 49 fights including 43 by knockout, an incredible record in heavyweight boxing. After retirement he briefly worked in TV, and for many years he was a referee in both boxing and wrestling. Sadly in 1969, and on the eve of his 46th birthday, Rocky lost his life in a plane crash.

From Quiz Going Out on Top

Answer: Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong won his 7 straight Tour de France championships (1999 to 2005) after defeating advanced testicular cancer. He started the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer victims, an organization that sells the "Livestrong" bracelets. He was stripped of all titles in October 2012 for blood doping.

From Quiz Legendary Upsets

Answer: Finland

The U.S. won 4-2, clinching the Gold Medal. Since the finals was a four-team round-robin, the Soviet Union was able to still obtain the Silver Medal by defeating Sweden 9-2.

From Quiz Sports Legends

Answer: Alain Prost

Piquet won in 81/83/87. Lauda won his three in 75/77/84 and Senna won the titles in 88/90/91. The latter's tragic death sadly robbed us of the spectacle of Senna locking horns with a young Schumacher, with Prost and Mansell on the grid to add to the fun and games. Alain Prost won his titles in 85/86/89/93.

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Last Updated Apr 26 2025 5:51 AM

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