60 Fun Facts About 2010s Sports

Who scored the only goal of the 2010 World Cup final, four minutes from the end of extra time?

It was the first World Cup final outside Europe between two European sides; the Netherlands finished with ten men after John Heitinga's red card.

Which substitute volleyed Germany's winner against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final?

He had come on shortly before the end of normal time and chested down Schürrle's cross before scoring in the 113th minute.

Germany's 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the 2014 semi-final was played in which city?

Brazil were without the injured Neymar and the suspended Thiago Silva; Brazilians call the game the Mineiraço after the Mineirão stadium.

The 2018 World Cup final saw the first own goal in a final's history. Which Croatian scored it?

Mandžukić made up for it by scoring at the right end after a Hugo Lloris error; France still won 4-2.

Bookmakers offered what odds on Leicester City winning the 2015-16 Premier League at the start of the season?

The title was sealed on 2 May 2016 when Chelsea came back to draw with Tottenham in the 'Battle of the Bridge'.

The Chicago Cubs' 2016 World Series win was their first since which year?

Game 7 went to ten innings and finished 8-7 just after midnight, the first extra-innings Game 7 since 1997.

The 2016 Cavaliers became the first team to win the NBA Finals after trailing by what margin?

The win ended Cleveland's 52-year championship drought; LeBron James was the unanimous Finals MVP.

What regular-season record did the Golden State Warriors set in 2015-16, the best in NBA history?

They broke the 1995-96 Bulls' 72-10, then lost the Finals from 3-1 up.

The Patriots' Super Bowl LI comeback against Atlanta came from what deficit?

It was the largest comeback in Super Bowl history and the first Super Bowl decided in overtime, 34-28.

The Seattle Seahawks won their first Super Bowl in February 2014 by what score over Denver?

It is the largest margin of victory ever by a Super Bowl underdog, and it happened in New Jersey, the first outdoor cold-weather Super Bowl.

Which undrafted Patriots rookie made the goal-line interception that won Super Bowl XLIX?

Seattle threw from the one-yard line rather than hand to Marshawn Lynch, a call still debated a decade later.

As a result of Deflategate, Tom Brady was suspended for how many games at the start of the 2016 season?

The Patriots were also fined $1 million and lost two draft picks; the balls in question came from the January 2015 AFC title game.

The Philadelphia Eagles' win in Super Bowl LII was their first NFL title since which year?

Nick Foles beat Tom Brady 41-33 with the help of the 'Philly Special' trick play, in a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX.

Peyton Manning was the first starting QB to win Super Bowls with two teams. Which two?

The win made him the first starting quarterback to win the Super Bowl with two different franchises.

Which Auburn player returned a missed field goal for the winning touchdown in the 2013 'Kick Six'?

Alabama's 57-yard attempt on the final play fell short; Davis caught it in the end zone and ran it back 109 yards.

In 2016 Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem while playing for which team?

He had led the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII three seasons earlier; he never played another NFL game after 2016.

Which team won the 2019 NBA title, the first for a franchise based outside the United States?

Kawhi Leonard was Finals MVP after his four-bounce buzzer-beater against Philadelphia in the previous round.

Kawhi Leonard's 2019 Game 7 buzzer-beater against the 76ers bounced on the rim how many times?

The corner shot gave Toronto a 92-90 win and remains the only Game 7 buzzer-beater in NBA history.

On 8 July 2010, LeBron James announced on ESPN he was taking his talents to which team?

'The Decision' aired after seven seasons in Cleveland; he returned there in 2014 and won the title in 2016.

The St. Louis Blues won their first Stanley Cup in 2019, in what number season of play?

They had been last in the league in January; it was then the third-longest title drought in NHL history.

Which NHL team won three Stanley Cups in the 2010s, in 2010, 2013 and 2015?

The Kings and Penguins each won two in the decade; the Blackhawks' run came under owner Rocky Wirtz.

The 2019 World Series was won by which team, upsetting the Houston Astros for its first title?

The road team won all seven games, a first in any major U.S. sport; the Astros' sign-stealing scandal broke weeks later.

The Astros' sign-stealing scandal concerned their illegal use of what in 2017 and 2018?

The scheme relayed catchers' signs to hitters, famously by banging on a trash can; managers A. J. Hinch and Alex Cora both lost their jobs.

At which three consecutive Olympics did Usain Bolt win the 100m and 200m double?

His 9.58 for the 100m from Berlin 2009 was the biggest improvement in the record since electronic timing began.

How many gold medals did Michael Phelps win at the 2016 Rio Olympics, his last Games?

Plus one silver, taking his career haul to 23 golds and 28 medals, both all-time records.

Katie Ledecky won her first Olympic gold at London 2012 in which event, aged 15?

The win was unexpected; she went on to become the most decorated female swimmer in history.

Simone Biles won the Olympic all-around gold for the first time at which Games?

She also won vault and floor and team gold in Rio, and repeated the all-around in Paris eight years later.

The 2014 Winter Olympics were held in which Russian city?

They were the first Games under IOC president Thomas Bach, and were later overshadowed by the Russian state doping scandal.

The 2018 Winter Olympics were hosted by which country?

Pyeongchang won the vote in Durban in 2011; it was South Korea's second Olympics after Seoul 1988.

Andy Murray's 2013 Wimbledon win made him the first British men's singles champion there since whom?

Perry's win was in 1936; Murray beat Novak Djokovic in straight sets and won again in 2016.

At which tournament did Serena Williams win her record-breaking 23rd major singles title?

She beat her sister Venus in the final while, it later emerged, about eight weeks pregnant.

Tiger Woods won the 2019 Masters, his fifth green jacket, at what age?

It was his 15th major and first in 11 years, after spinal fusion surgery; only Jack Nicklaus has won the Masters older.

What name is given to Europe's 2012 Ryder Cup comeback from 10-6 down near Chicago?

Europe won eight and halved one of the twelve singles; José María Olazábal captained in memory of Seve Ballesteros.

On which tiebreaker did England win the 2019 Cricket World Cup final after the match and Super Over were tied?

England had hit 26 boundaries to New Zealand's 17; the rule was scrapped soon afterwards.

India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup by beating Sri Lanka at which ground?

MS Dhoni finished it with a six; India became the first host nation to win the tournament.

New Zealand's 2015 Rugby World Cup win made them the first team to do what?

The 34-17 win over Australia at Twickenham was also their record third title.

South Africa beat England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final in which Japanese city?

Tries from Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe sealed a 32-12 win and a third Springbok title.

Eliud Kipchoge's sub-two-hour marathon in October 2019 was run in which city?

The Ineos 1:59 Challenge, run with rotating pacemakers, clocked 1:59:40; it does not count as a world record.

Who became the first British winner of the Tour de France in 2012?

Froome, his teammate, finished second and then won four of the next five Tours.

In 2012 Lance Armstrong was stripped of how many Tour de France titles?

USADA called his team's programme the most sophisticated doping scheme sport had seen; he confessed to Oprah Winfrey in January 2013.

Nico Rosberg announced his retirement how soon after winning the 2016 Formula One title?

He beat Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton to the title, then walked away at 31, saying he did not want his driving to atrophy.

Floyd Mayweather's 2017 win over Conor McGregor took his record to 50-0, passing which boxer's 49-0?

The crossover bout ended by TKO in the tenth round; McGregor had never boxed professionally before.

Which team did the US beat in the 2015 Women's World Cup final, a rematch of 2011?

Carli Lloyd scored a hat-trick inside 16 minutes, including a goal from the halfway line, in a 5-2 win.

The United States retained the Women's World Cup in 2019 by beating which nation in the final near Lyon?

Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle scored in a 2-0 win; Rapinoe took the Golden Ball and Golden Boot.

In 2014 Meb Keflezighi became the first American man to win the Boston Marathon since which year?

The win came a year after the finish-line bombing, with the names of the victims written on his bib.

Ronda Rousey, the UFC's first female champion, had earlier won an Olympic bronze medal in which sport?

Her 2008 Beijing bronze made her the first American woman to medal in the sport at the Games.

American Pharoah's 2015 Triple Crown was the first since which horse's in 1978?

He won the Belmont wire-to-wire and later added the Breeders' Cup Classic to complete racing's first modern Grand Slam.

Who scored Canada's overtime winner against the United States in the 2010 Olympic men's hockey final?

He captained Canada to a second straight gold at Sochi 2014 and later completed hockey's Triple Gold Club.

Mo Farah's 5,000 m and 10,000 m double at successive Olympics matched a feat first achieved by which Finn?

Farah completed the double at London 2012 and Rio 2016 and also at the 2013 and 2015 World Championships.

Which Kenyan set the 800 m world record of 1:40.91 while winning the London 2012 Olympic final?

He remains the only man ever to break 1:41 and defended his title in Rio four years later.

How many consecutive Formula One world titles did Sebastian Vettel win with Red Bull from 2010?

His 2010 crown, sealed in Abu Dhabi at age 23, made him the youngest world champion in the sport's history.

Who was man of the match with two goals in Real Madrid's 2018 Champions League final win over Liverpool?

The 3–1 win in Kyiv made Real the first club to win three straight titles in the Champions League era.

Which NHL expansion team reached the Stanley Cup Final in its very first season, 2017-18?

Their 13 playoff wins that spring remain the most by any team in an inaugural postseason.

How many points did Manchester City collect in the 2017-18 Premier League, a competition record?

The "Centurions" also set records for wins (32), goals (106) and consecutive victories (18).

How many points did Kobe Bryant score in his final NBA game, against Utah in April 2016?

He took 50 shots and outscored the Jazz by himself in the fourth quarter, setting a record for a final regular-season game.

Anthony Joshua's 2017 heavyweight win over Wladimir Klitschko drew 90,000 fans to which venue?

Joshua won by 11th-round TKO in a bout named Fight of the Year by The Ring; Klitschko retired months later.

Which team won its first Stanley Cup in 2012, beating the New Jersey Devils in six games?

It ended a 45-year wait; their only previous Final appearance had been a 1993 loss to Montreal.

At which tournament did Rory McIlroy win his first major championship?

He reached world number one in 2012 and had four majors by the age of 25.

Whom did Rafael Nadal beat in the 2017 French Open final to become the first man with ten titles at one major?

"La Décima" came without dropping a set, tying Björn Borg's record for a third such run at Roland Garros.

By winning which race after the 2015 Triple Crown did American Pharoah complete racing's first modern Grand Slam?

He was the 12th Triple Crown winner in history and was named Horse of the Year for 2015.