Q 01/05

The 'Miracle on Ice' saw the US beat which country in ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics?

A) Canada

B) Sweden

C) Soviet Union

D) Finland

Answer · why

C) Soviet Union

The Americans still had to beat Finland two days later to clinch the gold; coach Herb Brooks sprinted to the locker room and cried after the upset.

Q 02/05

Which broadcaster asked 'Do you believe in miracles?' as the 1980 US hockey upset ended?

A) Al Michaels

B) Jim McKay

C) Bob Costas

D) Keith Jackson

Answer · why

A) Al Michaels

Michaels was calling the game for ABC; the final score was 4-3 after the Soviets had led 3-2 through two periods.

Q 03/05

Which American speed skater won all five speed skating events at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics?

A) Dan Jansen

B) Bonnie Blair

C) Beth Heiden

D) Eric Heiden

Answer · why

D) Eric Heiden

It remains a record for medals by one athlete at a single Winter Games; he later became an orthopedic surgeon.

Q 04/05

Why did the United States boycott the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics?

A) The shooting down of a Korean airliner

B) The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

C) Soviet doping scandals

D) The Berlin Wall shootings

Answer · why

B) The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

President Carter even sent Muhammad Ali on a diplomatic tour of Africa to drum up support for the boycott.

Q 05/05

Which British runner beat Sebastian Coe to win the 800 metres at the 1980 Moscow Olympics?

A) Steve Cram

B) Steve Ovett

C) Brendan Foster

D) Dave Moorcroft

Answer · why

B) Steve Ovett

Ovett had written that he had a 90 percent chance in the 1,500 m; Coe turned the tables and won that one instead.