33 track and field quiz questions with answers, from sprint records to the throws and the decathlon. Reveal each answer, or read the full key at the end.
Every question offers three options and keeps the correct one behind a button, so you can play it straight and keep score. If you would rather have the whole set of track and field trivia questions and answers side by side, the key below the scoring table lists all 33 in order. The rules and event questions make a fair athletics round for a team meeting, and the rest are the sort of questions about track and field that suit a quiz night.
1. Who holds the men’s world record for the 100 meters sprint?
- A) Usain Bolt
- B) Carl Lewis
- C) Justin Gatlin
2. Which country has the most Olympic gold medals in track and field?
- A) United States
- B) Russia
- C) Great Britain
3. What is the standard distance of a marathon?
- A) 40.2 kilometers
- B) 42.195 kilometers
- C) 45 kilometers
4. In which Olympic event would you find the “Fosbury Flop” technique used?
- A) High jump
- B) Long jump
- C) Triple jump
5. Which track and field event is NOT part of the decathlon?
- A) 110m hurdles
- B) 800m
- C) 1500m
6. Who is known as the “World’s Fastest Woman”?
- A) Florence Griffith-Joyner
- B) Allyson Felix
- C) Marita Koch
7. In which country were the first modern Olympic Games held?
- A) Greece
- B) France
- C) Germany
8. What is the item thrown in the hammer throw event?
- A) A metal ball attached to a wire
- B) A wooden stick with a weighted end
- C) A rubber weight with a handle
9. Which of these events is NOT part of a heptathlon?
- A) 200 meters
- B) 400 meters
- C) 800 meters
10. Who holds the men’s world record for the triple jump?
- A) Jonathan Edwards
- B) Christian Taylor
- C) Kenny Harrison
11. What is the minimum number of laps completed in the 10,000 meters race?
- A) 20 laps
- B) 25 laps
- C) 30 laps
12. Which of the following events is NOT counted as a throwing event in track and field?
- A) Javelin
- B) Hammer throw
- C) Long jump
13. Which athlete won four gold medals at the 1948 London Olympics?
- A) Betty Cuthbert
- B) Fanny Blankers-Koen
- C) Wilma Rudolph
14. What is the world record for the men’s high jump?
- A) 2.45 meters
- B) 2.40 meters
- C) 2.55 meters
15. In which year was pole vaulting introduced for women at the Olympic Games?
- A) 1988
- B) 1992
- C) 2000
16. Which athlete has won the most Olympic medals in track and field?
- A) Carl Lewis
- B) Allyson Felix
- C) Paavo Nurmi
17. In the steeplechase event, what is the total number of barriers that athletes must clear in each lap?
- A) 3
- B) 4
- C) 5
18. How many gold medals did Jesse Owens win at the 1936 Berlin Olympics?
- A) 3
- B) 4
- C) 5
19. What is the length of the long jump runway?
- A) 30 meters
- B) 40 meters
- C) 45 meters
20. Which of these country’s national track and field team is nicknamed the “Sprint Factory”?
- A) Jamaica
- B) United States
- C) Great Britain
21. In which Olympic Games did Michael Johnson win both the 200m and 400m events?
- A) Atlanta 1996
- B) Sydney 2000
- C) Barcelona 1992
22. When did the women’s 3000 meters event change to 5000 meters in the Olympics?
- A) 1984
- B) 1996
- C) 2000
23. Which event opens the men's decathlon on the first day?
- A) Long jump
- B) Shot put
- C) 100 meters
24. Which event is contested last in the women's heptathlon?
- A) Javelin throw
- B) Long jump
- C) 800 meters
25. What is the world record time for the 4×100 meters men’s relay?
- A) 36.84 seconds
- B) 37.10 seconds
- C) 38.20 seconds
26. How many phases make up a legal triple jump?
- A) Two
- B) Three
- C) Four
27. Which of these countries has hosted the IAAF World Championships in Athletics more than once?
- A) Germany
- B) Russia
- C) China
28. At what distance is the women’s steeplechase event in the Olympics held?
- A) 2000 meters
- B) 3000 meters
- C) 5000 meters
29. What is the sunken container called that a pole vaulter plants the pole into?
- A) The box
- B) The pit
- C) The trough
30. Which woman has the most Olympic gold medals in the 400 meter event?
- A) Sanya Richards-Ross
- B) Marie-José Pérec
- C) Cathy Freeman
31. What is the approximate weight of the shot in the men’s shot put event?
- A) 5.5 kg (12 lbs)
- B) 7.26 kg (16 lbs)
- C) 8 kg (17.6 lbs)
32. Which sprinter won the 100 meters, the 200 meters and the 4×100 meters relay at the 1960 Rome Olympics?
- A) Wyomia Tyus
- B) Betty Cuthbert
- C) Wilma Rudolph
33. In which year was the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) founded?
- A) 1898
- B) 1912
- C) 1924
Results
| # of Correct Answers | Percentage Range | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0- | 0-49% | Starting BlockArmchair Athlete | You've got some learning to do, but don't worry, there's always the next game! |
| - | 50-64% | Track TrotterRookie Runner | Not bad! Keep practicing, and you'll be a sports trivia champ in no time. |
| - | 65-79% | Hurdle HeroMidfield Maestro | Impressive! You're getting closer to the top, keep up the good work. |
| - | 80-94% | Relay RacerAll-Star Striker | Wow, you really know your sports trivia! You're a force to be reckoned with. |
| -33 | 95-100% | Track and Field StarLegendary Champion | Unbelievable! You're a true sports trivia master. Your knowledge knows no bounds! |
Track and Field Quiz Answers: The Full Answer Key
Every question in this track and field quiz with its correct answer, in the order the questions appear above. Check your score against the table, or use the list as a set of track and field trivia questions and answers for a quiz night of your own.
| # | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Who holds the men's world record for the 100 meters sprint? | A) Usain Bolt |
| 2 | Which country has the most Olympic gold medals in track and field? | A) United States |
| 3 | What is the standard distance of a marathon? | B) 42.195 kilometers |
| 4 | In which Olympic event would you find the "Fosbury Flop" technique used? | A) High jump |
| 5 | Which track and field event is NOT part of the decathlon? | B) 800m |
| 6 | Who is known as the "World's Fastest Woman"? | A) Florence Griffith-Joyner |
| 7 | In which country were the first modern Olympic Games held? | A) Greece |
| 8 | What is the item thrown in the hammer throw event? | A) A metal ball attached to a wire |
| 9 | Which of these events is NOT part of a heptathlon? | B) 400 meters |
| 10 | Who holds the men's world record for the triple jump? | A) Jonathan Edwards |
| 11 | What is the minimum number of laps completed in the 10,000 meters race? | B) 25 laps |
| 12 | Which of the following events is NOT counted as a throwing event in track and field? | C) Long jump |
| 13 | Which athlete won four gold medals at the 1948 London Olympics? | B) Fanny Blankers-Koen |
| 14 | What is the world record for the men's high jump? | A) 2.45 meters |
| 15 | In which year was pole vaulting introduced for women at the Olympic Games? | C) 2000 |
| 16 | Which athlete has won the most Olympic medals in track and field? | C) Paavo Nurmi |
| 17 | In the steeplechase event, what is the total number of barriers that athletes must clear in each lap? | C) 5 |
| 18 | How many gold medals did Jesse Owens win at the 1936 Berlin Olympics? | B) 4 |
| 19 | What is the length of the long jump runway? | B) 40 meters |
| 20 | Which of these country's national track and field team is nicknamed the "Sprint Factory"? | A) Jamaica |
| 21 | In which Olympic Games did Michael Johnson win both the 200m and 400m events? | A) Atlanta 1996 |
| 22 | When did the women's 3000 meters event change to 5000 meters in the Olympics? | B) 1996 |
| 23 | Which event opens the men's decathlon on the first day? | C) 100 meters |
| 24 | Which event is contested last in the women's heptathlon? | C) 800 meters |
| 25 | What is the world record time for the 4×100 meters men's relay? | A) 36.84 seconds |
| 26 | How many phases make up a legal triple jump? | B) Three |
| 27 | Which of these countries has hosted the IAAF World Championships in Athletics more than once? | A) Germany |
| 28 | At what distance is the women's steeplechase event in the Olympics held? | B) 3000 meters |
| 29 | What is the sunken container called that a pole vaulter plants the pole into? | A) The box |
| 30 | Which woman has the most Olympic gold medals in the 400 meter event? | B) Marie-José Pérec |
| 31 | What is the approximate weight of the shot in the men's shot put event? | B) 7.26 kg (16 lbs) |
| 32 | Which sprinter won the 100 meters, the 200 meters and the 4×100 meters relay at the 1960 Rome Olympics? | C) Wilma Rudolph |
| 33 | In which year was the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) founded? | B) 1912 |
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FAQ
How many questions are in this track and field quiz?
There are 33. Each one gives you three options, and the correct answer sits behind the reveal button below the question.
Where are the track and field trivia questions and answers listed together?
In the answer key near the bottom of the page. It repeats all 33 questions with their correct answers in order, so a full round can be scored in one go.
Are these athletics quiz questions hard?
They are mixed. The event and rule questions are straightforward for anyone who follows a championships, while the record and history questions further down separate the regulars from the casual viewers.
Can I use these questions for a school or team quiz?
Yes. Read the question and its three options out loud, let everyone write a letter down, then work through the answer key at the end and count the correct answers.
What is a good score on this track and field quiz?
Anything over half is solid. The scoring table under the last question turns your total into a rank, from Starting Block at the bottom to Track and Field Star at the top.
Which track and field event is not counted as a throwing event?
The long jump. The four throwing events are the shot put, the discus, the hammer and the javelin, and the long jump belongs to the jumps instead.
What are the events of the decathlon?
Day one is the 100 meters, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400 meters. Day two is the 110 meters hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500 meters.
What are the events of the heptathlon?
The 100 meters hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200 meters on the first day, then the long jump, javelin and 800 meters on the second.
How many laps is the 10,000 meters on a standard track?
Twenty-five, since one lap of a standard outdoor track measures 400 meters in lane one.
What is the Fosbury Flop?
The high jump technique of clearing the bar head first and on the back, introduced by Dick Fosbury at the 1968 Olympics. It replaced the straddle and is now used by essentially every high jumper.
