Question 1

True or false: Almaz Ayana set the women's 10,000 metres world record at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Accepted Answer

True. She won gold in 29:17.45, smashing the previous world record by over 14 seconds.

Question 2

True or false: Ayana never competed in the 5000 meters at the Olympics, only the 10,000 meters.

Accepted Answer

False. She won bronze in the 5000m at Rio 2016, in addition to her gold in the 10,000m.

Question 3

True or false: Ayana's 10,000m world record stood for over seven years before being broken by Sifan Hassan.

Accepted Answer

False. Almaz Ayana's record (29:17.45) set on August 12, 2016, was broken by Sifan Hassan on June 6, 2021 (29:06.82) – less than five years later. It did not stand for over seven years.

Question 4

True or false: Ayana retired from athletics immediately after her 2016 Olympic gold medal.

Accepted Answer

False. She continued competing, winning world championship medals in 2017 and returning in 2022 after a hiatus.

Question 5

True or false: Almaz Ayana has never won a world championship gold medal outdoors.

Accepted Answer

False. She won gold in the 10,000m at the 2017 World Championships in London, plus bronze in 2015.

Question 6

True or false: Almaz Ayana set a world record in the women's 10,000 meters at the 2016 Olympics.

Accepted Answer

True. She ran 29:17.45 at Rio 2016, breaking the previous world record by over 14 seconds.

Question 7

True or false: Ayana's 2016 Olympic 10,000m time was faster than many men's Olympic gold medal times before 1960.

Accepted Answer

True. Her 29:17.45 would have beaten the men's gold medal time in the 10,000m at the 1948 Olympics (29:59.6).

Question 8

True or false: Ayana once ran a marathon under 2:20, making her one of the fastest debut marathoners ever.

Accepted Answer

True. Almaz Ayana debuted at the 2024 London Marathon with a time of 2:16:22, well under 2:20. This ranks among the fastest women's debut marathons ever recorded.

Almaz Ayana Trivia Questions