Q 01/05

Over how many consecutive days is a decathlon held?

A) One

B) Three

C) Four

D) Two

Answer · why

D) Two

Five events are held each day, and the winner is decided on points rather than placings.

Q 02/05

Which event traditionally closes the decathlon?

A) 400 metres

B) High jump

C) 1500 metres

D) Discus throw

Answer · why

C) 1500 metres

1500 metres: easing off in it in 1984, Daley Thompson seemed to miss the world record by one point, until photo-finish pictures from an earlier race s...

Q 03/05

Which British heptathlete won Olympic gold on home soil at London 2012?

A) Denise Lewis

B) Katarina Johnson-Thompson

C) Jessica Ennis-Hill

D) Kelly Sotherton

Answer · why

C) Jessica Ennis-Hill

Jessica Ennis-Hill: four years later in Rio she had to settle for silver, beaten by Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam.

Q 04/05

The word decathlon combines the Greek for ten with a word meaning what?

A) Contest or prize

B) Strength or skill

C) Speed or stamina

D) Glory or fame

Answer · why

A) Contest or prize

Contest or prize: the same Greek root gave English the word athlete, from athlētēs, one who competes for a prize.

Q 05/05

Which king first called Jim Thorpe the World's Greatest Athlete in 1912?

A) Gustav V of Sweden

B) George V of Britain

C) Haakon VII of Norway

D) Christian X of Denmark

Answer · why

A) Gustav V of Sweden

Gustav V of Sweden: the phrase stuck, and the Olympic decathlon champion is traditionally hailed as the World's Greatest Athlete.