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decathlon
Sign in to saveThe decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of 10 track and field events. The word was formed in analogy to the word "pentathlon", from Greek ( ) and ( ). Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged not by the position achieved but rather on a points system in each event. The decathlon is contested mainly by male athletes, while female athletes typically compete in the heptathlon.
The decathlon is a track and field competition where athletes compete in 10 different events over two days, with winners determined by combining their points across all events rather than by individual placements. It matters as a premier test of all-around athletic ability, traditionally contested by male athletes, while female athletes typically compete in the similar heptathlon instead.
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Key facts
- Athletics event.event
- Decathlon
- Athletics event.caption
- Decathlon combines four runs, three jumps, and three throws.
- Athletics event.WRmen
- Kevin Mayer 9126 pts (2018)
- Athletics event.WRwomen
- Austra Skujytė 8358 pts (2005)
- Athletics event.ORmen
- Damian Warner 9018 pts (2021)
- Athletics event.CRmen
- Ashton Eaton 9045 pts (2015)
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Jim Thorpe1912 Olympics.jpg
Show 1 more fact
- Commons category
- Decathlon
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via Wikidata · CC0
~36 min read
Article
33 sectionsContents
- Historical background
- Format
- Men's decathlon
- Women's decathlon
- One hour
- Masters athletics
- Points system
- Benchmarks
- Calculator
- Records
- Decathlon bests
- Men
- Women
- All-time top 25 men
- Notes
- All-time top 25 women
- Notes
- Competitions
- Olympic medalists
- World Championships medalists
- Men
- Women
- Continental competitions
- Other
- Season's bests
- National records
- Under-20 records
- Decathlon under-20 bests
- Other multiple event contests
- See also
- Explanatory notes
- References
- External links
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of 10 track and field events. The word was formed in analogy to the word "pentathlon", from Greek ( ) and ( ). Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged not by the position achieved but rather on a points system in each event. The decathlon is contested mainly by male athletes, while female athletes typically compete in the heptathlon.
Traditionally, the title of "World's Greatest Athlete" has been given to the person who wins the decathlon. This began when Gustav V of Sweden told Jim Thorpe, "Sir, you are the world's greatest athlete" after Thorpe won the decathlon at the Stockholm Olympics in 1912.