Sports Facts for Kids
Fun facts from the world of sports
Table tennis is considered the sport requiring the fastest reaction times of any sport. The ball can travel up to 112 km/h (70 mph), meaning players sometimes have less than one-tenth of a second to react.
The modern marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 km) was set at the 1908 London Olympics so the race could start at Windsor Castle and finish in front of the Royal Box at the stadium. Before that, marathon distances varied between races.
American swimmer Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals, including 23 gold. He competed in four Olympics between 2000 and 2016, and his arm span of 201 cm is wider than his 193 cm height.
A golf ball has between 300 and 500 tiny dimples on its surface, which actually help it fly farther. A smooth golf ball would travel only about half as far as a dimpled one because the dimples reduce air drag.
Athletes at the ancient Olympic Games in Greece competed completely naked. The tradition began around 720 BC, and the word 'gymnasium' actually comes from the Greek word 'gymnos', meaning naked.
The black and white pattern on a traditional soccer ball was designed specifically so it could be seen more easily on black-and-white television screens. Modern balls no longer need this design but many people still prefer the classic look.
Before every sumo wrestling match, the wrestlers throw handfuls of salt into the ring. This ancient Shinto ritual is meant to purify the sacred ring and drive away evil spirits. Wrestlers can throw up to 45 kg of salt during a single tournament day.
Serena Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the Open Era of tennis. She competed professionally for over 25 years and won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 1999 at just 17 years old.
Polo is one of the oldest team sports in history, dating back over 2,500 years to ancient Persia (modern Iran). It was originally used to train cavalry soldiers, with teams of up to 100 riders on each side!
An NBA basketball player runs approximately 4 to 5 kilometres (2.5 to 3 miles) during a single game. Point guards tend to run the most since they direct the offense, while centres typically run the least.