Sports Facts for Kids
Fun facts from the world of sports
In 1967, Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, despite officials trying to stop her.
The youngest known Olympic competitor was Dimitrios Loundras of Greece, who was just 10 years old when he competed in gymnastics in 1896.
Cricket has been played since at least the 16th century. The earliest definite reference dates to 1598 in a court case in England.
The marathon race honours the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger who reportedly ran from the Battle of Marathon to Athens — about 40 kilometres — to announce victory.
Table tennis was invented in Victorian England as an after-dinner game. Early versions used cigar box lids as paddles and a ball made from champagne corks.
A standard FIBA basketball court is 28 metres long and 15 metres wide, slightly smaller than an NBA court.
The Tour de France cycling race covers about 3,500 kilometres over 23 days, making it one of the most gruelling endurance events in the world.
Early footballs were made by inflating pig bladders and wrapping them in leather. Modern footballs are made from synthetic materials.
The world's fastest sprinters can run 100 metres in under 10 seconds, reaching speeds of over 44 kilometres per hour.
The earliest form of tennis, called jeu de paume, was played in 12th-century France by hitting the ball with the palm of the hand.