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

Eric Heiden swept the men's speed skating golds at Lake Placid in 1980, winning every event from the 500 to the 10,000 metres with an Olympic record i...

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

The US led a boycott in protest at the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979; President Carter even sent Muhammad Ali on a diplomatic tour o...

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

Steve Ovett, the favourite for the 1,500 m, instead beat Sebastian Coe over 800 m in Moscow; days later Coe turned the tables and won the 1,500 m.