Sports Facts for Kids
Fun facts from the world of sports
The longest cricket Test match in history lasted 12 days, played between England and South Africa in 1939. It was finally abandoned as a draw because England's ship home was about to leave.
Golf is believed to have originated in Scotland during the 15th century. It was actually banned by the Scottish Parliament in 1457 because King James II feared it was distracting soldiers from archery practice.
American swimmer Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time, winning 23 gold medals and 28 Olympic medals in total across four Olympic Games between 2000 and 2016.
The Rugby World Cup was first held in 1987 and co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia. New Zealand's All Blacks won the very first tournament and remain one of the most successful teams in the competition's history.
The marathon race is inspired by the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek soldier who supposedly ran from the town of Marathon to Athens — a distance of about 40 km — to announce a military victory, then collapsed and died.
A Formula 1 car generates so much downforce that at high speeds it could theoretically drive upside down on the ceiling of a tunnel. The aerodynamics press the car so hard into the track it improves grip enormously.
Table tennis has the most registered players of any sport in the world, with an estimated 300 million people playing it competitively. It is especially popular in China, where it is the national sport.
The Tour de France was first held in 1903 and covers around 3,500 kilometres over three weeks, making it one of the most demanding sporting events in the world. Riders burn approximately 8,000 calories a day.
Wrestling is considered one of the oldest sports in the world, with cave paintings in France showing wrestlers more than 15,000 years old. It was one of the original events at the ancient Olympic Games.
The Super Bowl is the single most-watched television broadcast in the United States each year. More than 100 million Americans tune in, and the half-time show is one of the most viewed entertainment events in the world.