50 Fun Facts About Sports, People and Places
Sports Trivia:
1. The first Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece in 776 BC.
2. Basketball was invented by Canadian physical education instructor James Naismith in December 1891.
3. Golf is the only sport played on the moon – astronaut Alan Shepard hit a golf ball with a six-iron club during Apollo 14 mission in 1971.
Famous Athletes:
4. Michael Jordan’s nickname “Air” came from his incredible ability to jump high and make slam dunks.
5. Usain Bolt holds the world record for fastest human ever timed at 27.8 mph or 44.7 km/h.
Unusual Records:
6. In 1988, pitcher Tom Seaver of the Chicago White Sox became the oldest player to throw a no-hitter at age 40.
7. On June 23, 1993, the New York Yankees set an MLB record when they used eight different pinch-hitters in one game against the Texas Rangers.
Incredible Feats:
8. In 1999, David Cone of the New York Mets threw a perfect game while recovering from surgery just two months earlier.
9. In 1982, Wayne Gretzky scored 92 goals in a single season, breaking the previous NHL record of 87 set by Phil Esposito in 1970-71.
Weird Rituals:
10. Before every game, basketball star LeBron James puts on his right shoe before his left because he believes it helps him stay balanced.
Interesting Origins:
11. Soccer originated in China as early as the second century BC but modern soccer began in England in the mid-19th century.
12. The ancient Greek Olympics featured naked athletes competing in events like wrestling and boxing.
Fascinating Facts About People:
13. Albert Einstein never learned how to drive a car.
14. Leonardo da Vinci could write with both hands simultaneously, and often did so to save time.
Celebrity Trivia:
15. Marilyn Monroe had a higher IQ than Albert Einstein.
Historical Figures:
16. Abraham Lincoln was the tallest US president at 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm).
Icons of the Industry:
17. Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse in 1928 after losing the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
Places to Visit:
18. Machu Picchu, located in Peru, is considered one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Hidden Gems:
19. The small town of Shibam in Yemen is known as the “Manhattan of the desert” due to its towering mud brick buildings.
Natural Wonders:
20. The Grand Canyon is over a mile deep and up to 18 miles wide in some parts.
Architectural Marvels:
21. The Great Wall of China stretches for over 13,000 miles making it the longest wall in the world.
Cultural Landmarks:
22. The Eiffel Tower was originally built as a temporary structure for the Paris Exposition of 1889.