87% of People Can't Identify Which Sport Each of These Athletes Is Famous For! Can You?

By: Jody Mabry
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
87% of People Can't Identify Which Sport Each of These Athletes Is Famous For! Can You?
Image: Wiki Commons/JudeMaris Via YouTube/Team USA Via YouTube

About This Quiz

Haven't you always wanted to be a world-class athlete? Or, are you a fan who is happy with collecting cards, memorabilia or just cheering on your favorite team and athlete. Whichever it is, we're pretty sure you can name your own team's players. But, how well will you do with professional athletes from around the world?

While some players like Deion Sanders were multi-sport players, they were most known for a specific sport. And then, of course, there were players like Michael Jordan who excelled at one sport and gave a shot at another - with lesser results. Other athletes had the skills to "go pro" in nearly any sport they wished but opted for that big prize of an Olympic medal. 

This quiz is all about identifying the world's greatest athletes past and present from an image and trying to identify which sport they played. Some of these players you won't have a problem with, and others... Well, it looks like you'll just have to take this quiz to prove how well you really know your sports. Can a football fan identify tennis players? Can a golfer figure out hockey players? And what about those obscure sports such as skateboarding and biking?

You might think this quiz is a sprint, but really it's more of a marathon. 

Michelle Wie
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Golf
Football
Baseball
Soccer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hailing from Hawaii, Michelle Wie burst onto the women's golfing scene at an early age. By the time she finished her rookie professional season at the age of 17, she had earned around $20 million. Wie even played in a number of men's tournaments, coming close to making the cut in a number of them. Wie's career has never been plain sailing, with injury and a loss in form affecting her for long periods of time.

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Serena Williams
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Tennis
Softball
Basketball
Golf
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Serena Williams has dominated tennis in the 2000's, holding the#1 ranking for 316 weeks as of 2017. Her 23 grand slam singles titles is 2nd all-time behind Margaret Court. With her wins, titles, and overall success, many consider her the greatest female tennis player, even compared to the likes of Billie Jean King.

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Babe Ruth
YouTube
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Baseball
Football
Hockey
Golf
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Babe Ruth's real name was George Herman Ruth Jr. He was born on February 6, 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.

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Larry Bird
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Football
Basketball
Golf
Boxing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rival of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird would go on to win three championships with the Boston Celtics in the 1980s. With all of his playing accolades, it's easy to forget that Larry Bird was also a great coach. He won Coach of the Year honors in 1998 in his first season as head coach of the Indiana Pacers.

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Roger Federer
Wiki commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Golf
Baseball
Tennis
Football
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Federer is arguably the greatest tennis player of all-time, holding the number one spot for 302 weeks. He has won 18 grand slams in 28 finals appearances, including appearing in 10 grand slam finals in a row. As Jimmy Conners once said, "In an era of specialists, you're either a clay court specialist, a grass court specialist, or a hard court specialist... or you're Roger Federer."

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Willie Mays
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Boxing
Basketball
Baseball
Golf
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Willie Mays was nicknamed "The Say Hey Kid." He played in the MLB for 22 years and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.

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LeBron James
Youtube
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Basketball
Football
Tennis
Bowling
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A modern-day phenom in the world of basketball, current Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Lebron James has dazzled crowds with his on-court performance, boasting three NBA championships and four MVP honors. He was so touted as a future star, that he received a $90 million contract with Nike before he even stepped onto the professional hard court.

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Monica Seles
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Tennis
Baseball
Golf
Football
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Monica Seles was the world's youngest French Open champion at 16-years-old. She won eight more grand slams by the age of 20. However, her career took a sudden turn when she was attacked on-court by a fan who stabbed her. She would miss the next two years. Despite finding success upon her return, she was never the same, leaving tennis fans wondering how great she could have been.

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Lou Gehrig
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Football
Baseball
Soccer
Tennis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lou Gehrig was a 6-time World Series champion. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.

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Tiger Woods
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Baseball
Basketball
Golf
Boxing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Arguably the greatest golfer of the modern generation, Tiger Woods burst onto the scene in 1997. He won the U.S. Masters by an incredible 12 strokes, making him the youngest champion ever. Woods has won 14 majors in total. Only Jack Nicklaus, with 18, has more. Unfortunately, a serious back injury has stalled Woods' career. Although he has made a comeback, it remains to be seen whether he can reach the same heights as before.

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Ted Williams
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Baseball
Football
Soccer
Boxing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ted Williams played his entire 19-year MLB career as a left fielder for the Boston Red Sox. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966.

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Andre Agassi
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Golf
Badmitten
Tennis
Soccer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Andre Agassi is much more than just a tennis player. He is considered one of the greatest worldwide athletic celebrities of the 1990s and 2000s, reviving tennis among a young generation. Despite his fall in the late 1990s, Agassi made one of the biggest comebacks in the history of tennis. He has eight grand slams and is one of only two players to have won four Australian Open titles. He also has a career golden slam.

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Michael Jordan
n/a
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Tennis
Baseball
Basketball
Soccer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

ESPN's Athlete of the Century, Michael Jordan took the NBA by storm, collecting six championships, five MVP honours, and six Finals MVP trophies. As a result of his numerous long-standing endorsement deals, and a majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets, Michael Jordan was ranked as the richest athlete in history, with Forbes estimating his total net worth at $1.14 billion.

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Joe DiMaggio
YouTube
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Soccer
Tennis
Golf
Baseball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Joe DiMaggio, known as "The Yankee Clipper," was born on November 25, 1914. He played his entire MLB career with the New York Yankees.

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Vinjay Singh
wiki commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Football
Tennis
Soccer
Golf
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hailing from Fiji, Vijay Singh spent hours practicing golf growing up. He turned professional in 1982, then joined the PGA Tour in 1993. He went on to win three majors. He was the first golfer to earn over $10 million in one season!

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Justine Henin
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Tennis
Golf
Softball
Boxing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Justine Henin was the world's #1 female player for 117 weeks, winning seven grand slam singles titles. She is best known for her mental toughness, athleticism, and overall court skills, especially with her anomalous one-handed backhand.

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Jimmie Foxx
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Hockey
Football
Baseball
Tennis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jimmie Foxx was born in 1907 and nicknamed "Double X" and "The Beast." He was a 9-time All-Star from 1933 - 1941.

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Carl Lewis
youtube
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Football
Basketball
Sprinter
Tennis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Carl Lewis is one of the greatest Olympic athletes of all time. Although he was introduced to variety of sports and hobbies at a young age, he found his niche in Track and Field, competing in four Olympic Games and winning an astonishing nine gold medals.

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Annika Sorenstam.
wiki commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Golf
Tennis
Boxing
Baseball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of the most successful female golfers of all time, Annika Sorenstam of Sweden won ten majors. In 2001, she shot the lowest round ever recorded in LPGA history, a 59 at the Standard Register Ping tournament. Sorenstam was named LPGA Player of the Year on a record eight occasions.

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Johnny Bench
YouTube
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Baseball
Golf
Football
Basketball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Johnny Bench was an All-Star catcher for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 - 1983. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.

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Jim Courier
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Soccer
Football
Golf
Tennis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jim Courier has 29 career titles in single and doubles, with four grand slam titles. He is the youngest to have reached the finals of each grand slam, which he did at 22.

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Lance Armstrong
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Golf
Bicyclist
Tennis
Crew
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lance Armstrong shocked the cycling world when he won the Tour De France in cycling seven consecutive times between 1999 to 2005, all the while conquering testicular cancer and raising substantial funds for cancer research in the process. However, his reputation was tarnished when all of his medals were rescinded and he was disqualified due to illegal doping.

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Mickey Mantle
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Ping pong
Golf
Baseball
Basketball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mickey Mantle was born on October 20, 1931. He played his entire career with the New York Yankees from 1951 - 1968.

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Jason Day
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Golf
Football
Soccer
Tennis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An avid golfer from an early age, Jason Day was further inspired when reading a book about the feats of a certain Tiger Woods. Day reached number one in the world in 2015 for a brief period and also recorded his only major triumph at the U.S. PGA Championship during the same year.

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muhammad ali
Wiki commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Basketball
Boxing
Baseball
Hockey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Forever known as one of the most influential and enigmatic athletes of all time, Muhammad Ali captured the World Heavy Weight Championship three times and won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1960. A civil rights champion, poet, and fleet-footed master in the ring, Ali passed away in 2016 after an extended battle with Parkinson's.

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Stefan Edberg
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Tennis
Soccer
Hockey
Baseball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stefan Edberg is a former #1. His serve and volley play dominated tennis in the 1980s and 1990s. He won six singles grand slam titles and three doubles grand slam titles. He was also ranked in the top ten for 10 of his 13 professional years.

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Satchel Paige
youtube
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Soccer
Baseball
Football
Baseball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige had one of the longest baseball careers in the history of baseball. He was a pitcher from 1926 through 1965.

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Martina Hingis
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Softball
Tennis
Soccer
Hockey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Martina Hingis jumped onto the pro tour at the age of 14 and won a series of "youngest-ever" records. She has 23 grand slam titles among singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Despite having an injury-plagued career, Hingis won 107 titles in an on-again off-again 19-year career.

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Deion Sanders
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Baseball
Football
Soccer
Basketball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Never one to shy from the limelight, Deion Sanders was the first NFL cornerback to make $1 million a year, eventually winning two Super Bowl championships with the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. He was such a gifted athlete that in September of 1989, Deion Sanders hit a home run with the New York Yankees and then, just fives days later, returned a punt for a touchdown for his NFL team, the Atlanta Falcons.

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Davis Love III
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Tennis
Football
Golf
Boxing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With a father who was a pro golfer, it was inevitable that Davis Love III would make a success of the sport. Love won 21 times on the PGA Tour, including the 1997 PGA Championship, his only major. He captained Team USA at the 2012 and 2016 Ryder Cups.

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Gordie Howe
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Crew
Tennis
Hockey
Baseball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gordie Howe's playing career spanned an amazing 32 seasons, having played 26 in the NHL and another six in the now-defunct WHA (World Hockey Association). He holds the record for most games played with 1,767, and remains to this very day second all-time in goals scored (801), only behind the "Great One," Wayne Gretzky. In hockey, it's considered "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" when a player gets a goal, an assist and a fight in a single game.

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Kim Clijsters
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Hockey
Tennis
Golf
Baseball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kim Clijsters is a strong baseliner, with one of the best backhands in women's tennis. As a former #1, she has four singles grand slams and two doubles grand slams. Perhaps her most memorable is the 2009 US Open where she won as a wildcard and unseeded player, having recently given birth. This also made her the first mother since 1980 to win a grand slam.

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Roberto Clemente
youtube
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Baseball
Football
Soccer
Tennis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Roberto Clemente was a Puerto Rican professional baseball right fielder who played 18 seasons in the MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973

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Wilt Chamberlain
Wiki commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Basketball
Baseball
Rugy
Football
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain had the best season of his career, scoring an NBA record 100-point game while racking up over 4,000 total points and a 50.4 points per game average. He won two NBA Championships; one in 1967 with the Philadelphia 76ers, and one later in 1972 with the LA Lakers. Little known fact: Chamberlain played basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters, before signing with the Philadelphia Warriors a season later.

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Mike Tyson
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Wrestling
Boxing
Baseball
Tennis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Iron" Mike Tyson burst on the heavyweight boxing scene in the mid-1980s and immediately established himself as one of the most devastating punchers ever seen. In his first year of professional boxing, he quickly racked up a 15-0 record with all his wins coming by way of knockout. By the end of 1987, he was the IBF, WBC and WBA world boxing heavyweight champion. Tyson suffered his first defeat to the unheralded Buster Douglas in 1990. A range of personal problems, including a rape conviction for which he spent three years in prison, hampered his career, and Tyson was never the same boxer again. He eventually retired in 2005.

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Albert Pujols
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Baseball
Soccer
Football
Rugby
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Currently a member of the Anaheim Angels, Albert Pujols seems to be a lock for the MLB Hall of Fame with 591 homers, almost 3,000 hits and two World Series' already to his name. A perennial all-star in the 2000s, the Dominicano was named Player of the Decade by Sports Illustrated Magazine. Pujols is also a philanthropist. He founded the Pujols Family Foundation which helps those living with Down Syndrome, as well as the impoverished n the Dominican Republic.

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Warren Spahn
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Football
Golf
Baseball
Soccer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Warren Edward Spahn was a left-handed pitcher who played his entire 21-year baseball career in the National League. He played with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves, the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants.

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Peyton Manning
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Hockey
Football
Golf
Tennis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A master at running a "hurry-up" offense, Peyton Manning is among the greatest quarterbacks to ever grace the football field. Drafted by the Indianapolis Colts and later signed by the Denver Broncos, Peyton holds the records for most career touchdown passes (539), most touchdowns in a single season (59), most passing yards (71,940), and most passing yards in a single season (5,477). He is a member of one of the greatest football families of all time. His father played 15 years. Peyton matched his brother, Eli's, Super Bowl ring count at two.

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Michael Johnson
youtube
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Track
Crew
Basketball
Football
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An intelligent, relaxed and enigmatic sprinter, Michael Johnson won four gold medals in the Olympics and eight World Championship golds for the United States. He set (now-broken) records in both the 200m and 400m sprints, and forever left his mark on the game with his confident demeanor and larger-than-life personality. Little known fact: When he was in high school, he was considered a "nerd," dreamed of being an architect, and only ran for "fun" and a means to obtain a university education.

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Pete Rose
n/a
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Baseball
Football
Hockey
Soccer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Peter Edward Rose Sr. was known by his nickname, "Charlie Hustle". He played in the MLB for 23 years.

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Dustin Johnson
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Golf
Baseball
Boxing
Tennis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dustin Johnson, the 2017 world number one, has 17 professional wins to his name along with the 2016 US Open, his only major to date. Along with Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, he is one of three players to win an event in his first 10 seasons on tour. He is engaged to Pauline Gretzky, the daughter of hockey legend, Wayne Gretzky.

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Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Softball
Basketball
Track
Polo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jackie Joyner-Kersee became famous for her 7,291 point score in the heptathlon, bringing home the gold twice -- in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics. To put that into perspective, she's the only female athlete to ever score above 7,000 points, making her one of the most versatile athletes ever. To top it off, she set records in long jump, claiming gold in 1988, as well as two bronze in 1992 and 1996.

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Lindsay Davenport
Wiki commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Tennis
Hockey
Basketball
Golf
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lindsey Davenport held the #1 spot eight different times for a total of 98 weeks. She retired with six grand slam titles and an Olympic gold.

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Sandy Koufax
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Football
Basketball
Baseball
Tennis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sandy Koufax pitched 12 seasons for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, from 1955 to 1966. At age 36 in 1972, he became the youngest player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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Tony Hawk
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Skateboarding
Track
Crew
Tennis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With over 70 professional skateboarding contests under his belt, Tony Hawk is one of the most successful and popular skaters to ever live. He invented the "900" trick, helped the sport launch to new heights in the mid-90s and won two X Game golds in 1995 and 1997. Hawk has always thrived outside of competitions as well, with a successful line of video games, skateboarding videos and an extreme sports tour. He's also a philanthropist, having started the Tony Hawk Foundation to bring new parks to low-income areas in the United States.

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Rory Mcllroy
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Baseball
Tennis
Golf
Football
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rory McIlroy turned pro at the age of 20 and became the youngest to rank in the top 50 golfers in the world. McIlroy became the face of the EA Sports golf gaming franchise after they dropped Tiger Woods.

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Mike Schmidt
n/a
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Baseball
Football
Soccer
Tennis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mike Schmidt played 17 seasons in the MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies. He hit 548 home runs during his career.

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Tracy Austin
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Golf
Basketball
Baseball
Tennis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tracy Austin won three grand slams. She still holds records as the youngest female to win the US Open, and the youngest to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

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Barry Bonds
YouTube
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Football
Soccer
Basketball
Baseball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Barry Lamar Bonds was born on July 24, 1964. He was a left fielder for 22 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He received seven NL MVP awards and 14 All-Star selections.

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Rickie Fowler
Wiki Commons
Which sport did this famous athlete play?
Baseball
Tennis
Football
Golf
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of the new breed of popular young golfers, Rickie Fowler turned professional in 2009 and immediately was noted for his bright colored clothing, especially orange, a nod to his former state team. Fowler, however, had to wait for success out on the course and only won his first tournament in 2012.

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You Got:
/50
Wiki Commons/JudeMaris Via YouTube/Team USA Via YouTube