Q 01/05

Which Founding Father made wooden fins for his hands as a boy so he could swim faster?

A) Benjamin Franklin

B) Thomas Jefferson

C) George Washington

D) John Adams

Answer · why

A) Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin gripped each oval pallet through a thumb hole, but by his own account they fatigued his wrists.

Q 02/05

Which American swimmer won seven golds at Munich 1972, each in world-record time?

A) Mark Spitz

B) Matt Biondi

C) Don Schollander

D) John Naber

Answer · why

A) Mark Spitz

Mark Spitz, who is Jewish, was put under guard after the Munich massacre that followed his races, and was hurried out of the Games for his safety.

Q 03/05

In December 2022 the aquatic sports governing body FINA rebranded under what name?

A) Universal Water Sports

B) Global Swimming Federation

C) International Aquatics League

D) World Aquatics

Answer · why

D) World Aquatics

FINA, which stood for Federation Internationale de Natation, became World Aquatics in December 2022 to reflect all aquatic disciplines, not just swimm...

Q 04/05

Which Olympic swimming champion of 1912 and 1920 helped spread surfing around the world?

A) Buster Crabbe

B) Duke Kahanamoku

C) Warren Kealoha

D) Norman Ross

Answer · why

B) Duke Kahanamoku

Duke Kahanamoku also used his surfboard in 1925 to rescue eight people from a capsized fishing boat at Newport Beach, California.

Q 05/05

What is the standard length of an Olympic-size swimming pool?

A) 25 meters

B) 50 meters

C) 100 meters

D) 200 meters

Answer · why

B) 50 meters

50 meters is the long-course standard; Paris 2024's pool was only about 2.2 m deep, and some blamed the shallow water for slower times.