Decathlon is generally a men’s event, although there are some women’s decathlon competitions. At the Olympic level, women compete in the seven-sport heptathlon. Under IAAF rules, the women’s decathlon includes the following events: 100-meter run, discus, pole vault, javelin and 400-meter run on day one; 100-meter hurdles, long jump, shot put, high jump and 1500 on day two.
Technique:
Every track and field discipline is included in the decathlon, except for long distance running. Decathletes must nevertheless possess the stamina of a long-distance runner in order to compete successfully in the 10 events over two days.What to look for:
Competitors receive points in each event, based on a pre-set scoring table. It’s not necessary to win any individual events in order to win the decathlon. Rather, it’s more important for a decathlete to be consistently successful in each event. The Olympic gold medalist earns the title, “World’s Greatest Athlete.”Men’s world record:
Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic broke the 9000-point barrier and established a record that still stands when he compiled 9026 points during an event in Austria on May 26-27, 2001. Sebrle broke fellow Czech Tomas Dvorak’s mark of 8,994 points. Dvorak competed in the 2001 event, placing third.Sebrle’s bid for the record concluded with a dramatic 1500-meter run. He needed to run 4:26.68 to set the mark, more than one second below his personal best. Sebrle accomplished the feat decisively, finishing in 4:21.98.
On day one, Sebrle ran the 100 in 10.64, then scored 8.11 meters in the long jump, 15.33 in the shot put and 2.12 in the high jump. He closed the day by running 47.79 in the 400. On the second day Sebrle ran the 110 hurdles in 13.92 and scored 47.92 meters in the discus, 4.8 in the pole vault and 70.16 in the javelin before concluding his record performance in the 1500.
Women's world record:
The IAAF first recognized a women’s world decathlon record on Jan. 1, 2005. The inaugural record-holder was Marie Collonville, who scored 8160 points in Talence, France in September of 2004. But it didn’t take long for Lithuania’s Austra Skujyte to establish a new mark as she scored 8366 points at the University of Missouri's Audrey Walton Combined Events meet on April 14-15, 2005.On the first day of competition, Skujyte ran the 100 meters in 12.45, threw the discus 46.19 meters, scored 3.1 meters in the pole vault, 48.78 meters in the javelin throw and ran a personal best 57.19 in the 400. On day two she ran the 100-meter hurdles in 14.22, scored 6.12 meters in the long jump, 16.42 meters in the shot put and 1.78 meters in the high jump. Needing to run 5:53.82 in the 1500 to set the record, Skujyte cruised in with a time of 5:15.86.
