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hardQ. No. 18012

Who is recognized as the first champion of the modern Olympic Games?

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The ancient Olympic Games came to an end in the late fourth century, and the idea of reviving them belonged to a French educator, Pierre de Coubertin. The first modern Games were staged in Athens, in a restored marble stadium built for an ancient festival. Winners did not receive gold at these Games. The champion in each event was given a silver medal and an olive branch, while runners-up received bronze and a laurel branch.

ASpyridon Louis
BJames Connolly
CThomas Burke
DAlfréd Hajós
Correct Answer: James ConnollyYour Answer: B

Explanation

Correct answer: Option B (James Connolly). Connolly, an American from a poor Boston family, won the triple jump on 6 April 1896, the opening day of athletics. Why the other options are wrong: Option A (Spyridon Louis): Louis, a Greek water-carrier, won the marathon on 10 April and became a national hero, but that was days after Connolly's title. Option C (Thomas Burke): Burke, a sprinter from the Boston Athletic Association, took the 100 metres and 400 metres, and he is remembered for sprinting rather than for winning the first title. Option D (Alfréd Hajós): Hajós, a Hungarian swimmer, won the 100 metres and 1,200 metres freestyle races in the open sea, days after athletics had started. Remember: Connolly is the name to link with 1896, the triple jump and the very first title.

Important Notes

  • Athens returned as host in 2004, making Greece the birthplace and a two-time host of the modern Olympic Games.
  • The five Olympic rings, designed in 1913, stand for the five inhabited continents and were first flown at the 1920 Antwerp Games.
  • The Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius, meaning faster, higher, stronger, was proposed by Coubertin's friend, the priest Henri Didon.
  • The International Olympic Committee was founded in Paris in 1894 and now has its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

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