The First Modern Olympic Games Trivia Questions

The 1896 Games were all-male. Women first competed in the 1900 Paris Olympics, though in very limited events like tennis and croquet.

The torch relay and flame ceremony debuted at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The 1896 Games had no torch or flame tradition.

Spyridon Louis, a 24-year-old farmer and water carrier, won the marathon in 2:58:50. He was celebrated as a national hero, and Greece declared it the country's greatest athletic moment.

Silver medals were awarded to first-place winners, second place got bronze, and third place got nothing. Gold medals were introduced at the 1904 St. Louis Games.

The 1896 marathon was about 40 kilometers (24.85 miles). The modern 26.2-mile distance was set in 1908 for the London Olympics to please the royal family.

Exactly 14 nations sent athletes, mostly from Europe and the Americas. The United States was one, though only 14 Americans competed.

While dueling pistols were part of the 1906 Intercalated Games, the 1896 program had military rifle and pistol shooting events, but no live duels. Dueling never appeared in official Olympics.

Swimming races took place in the Bay of Zea near Piraeus. Athletes swam in cold, choppy water with no lane ropes, and a boat served as the starting platform.