# Decathlon

The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of 10 track and field events. The word "decathlon" was formed, in analogy to the word "pentathlon", from Greek δέκα (déka, meaning "ten") and ἄθλος (áthlos, or ἄθλον, áthlon, meaning "contest" or "prize"). Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not by the position achieved. 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.
The event is similar to the pentathlon held at the ancient Greek Olympics, and also similar to a competition called an "all-around", which was contested at the United States amateur championships in 1884. Another all-around was held at the 1904 Summer Olympics. The modern decathlon first appeared at the 1912 Games.
In modern athletics, the 10 events are: 100 metres, 400 metres, 1500 metres, 110 metre hurdles, long jump, high jump, pole vault, discus throw, javelin throw, and shotput. The current official decathlon world record holder is French athlete Kevin Mayer, who scored a total of 9,126 points at the 2018 Décastar in France.

## Historical background

The decathlon developed from the ancient pentathlon competitions held at the ancient Greek Olympics. Pentathlons involved five disciplines – long jump, discus throw, javelin throw, sprint and a wrestling match. Introduced in Olympia during 708 BC, this competition was extremely popular for many centuries.
A ten-event competition known as the "all-around" or "all-round" championship, similar to the modern decathlon, was first contested at the United States amateur championships in 1884 and reached a consistent form by 1890. While an all-around event was held at the 1904 Summer Olympics, whether it was an official Olympic event has been disputed.
The modern decathlon first appeared in the Olympic athletics program at the 1912 Games in Stockholm.

## Format
### Men's decathlon

The vast majority of international and top-level men's decathlons are divided into a two-day competition, with the track and field events held in the order below. Traditionally, all decathletes who finish the event, rather than just the winner or medal-winning athletes, do a round of honour together after the competition. The current world record holder is Kevin Mayer from France with 9126 points which he set on September 16, 2018, in Talence, France.

### Women's decathlon

At major championships, the women's equivalent of the decathlon is the seven-event heptathlon; before 1981 it was the five-event pentathlon. However, in 2001, the IAAF (now World Athletics) approved scoring tables for a women's decathlon; the current world record holder is Austra Skujytė of Lithuania, with 8,358. Women's disciplines differ from men's in the same way as for standalone events: the shot, discus, and javelin weigh less, and the sprint hurdles use lower hurdles over 100 m rather than 110 m. The points tables used are the same as for the heptathlon in the shared events. In some women's decathlon competitions, the schedule differs from the men's decathlon, with the field events switched between day one and day two. This rule was initially instituted to avoid scheduling conflicts when men's and women's decathlon competitions take place simultaneously, however by 2024 the rule was revised to allow conducting the women's decathlon using the men's event order. The inaugural Women's Decathlon World Championships used the men's ordering of events.

#### Women's decathlon reversed field event order (optional)
### One hour

The one-hour decathlon is a special type of decathlon in which the athletes have to start the last of ten events (1500 m) within sixty minutes of the start of the first event. The world record holder is Czech decathlete Robert Změlík, who achieved 7,897 points at a meeting in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, in 1992.

### Masters athletics

In Masters athletics, performance scores are age graded before being applied to the standard scoring table. This way, marks that would be competitive within an age division can get rated, even if those marks would not appear on the scale designed for younger age groups. Additionally, like women, the age divisions use different implement weights and lower hurdles. Based on this system, German Rolf Geese in the M60 division and American Robert Hewitt in the M80 divisions have set their respective world records over 8,000 points. Using the same scale, Nadine O'Connor scored 10,234 points in the W65 division, the highest decathlon score ever recorded.

## Points system

Parameter values by discipline :
| Event | A | B | C |
| 100 m | 25.4347 | 18 | 1.81 |
| Long jump | 0.14354 | 220 | 1.4 |
| Shot put | 51.39 | 1.5 | 1.05 |
| High jump | 0.8465 | 75 | 1.42 |
| 400 m | 1.53775 | 82 | 1.81 |
| 110 m hurdles | 5.74352 | 28.5 | 1.92 |
| Discus throw | 12.91 | 4 | 1.1 |
| Pole vault | 0.2797 | 100 | 1.35 |
| Javelin throw | 10.14 | 7 | 1.08 |
| 1500 m | 0.03768 | 480 | 1.85 |
The 2001 IAAF points tables use the following formulae:
* Points = INT(A(B − P)$^C$) for track events (faster time produces a higher score)
* Points = INT(A(P − B)$^C$) for field events (greater distance or height produces a higher score)
A, B, and C are parameters that vary by discipline, as shown in the adjacent table, while P is the performance by the athlete, measured in seconds (running), metres (throwing), or centimetres (jumping).
The decathlon tables should not be confused with the scoring tables compiled by Bojidar Spiriev, to allow comparison of the relative quality of performances by athletes in different events. On those tables, for example, a decathlon score of 9,006 points equates to 1,265 "comparison points", the same number as a triple jump of 18 m.

### Benchmarks

Split evenly between the events, the following table shows the benchmark levels needed to earn 1,000, 900, 800, and 700 points in each sport.
| Event | 1,000 pts | 900 pts | 800 pts | 700 pts | Unit |
| 100 m | 10.395 | 10.827 | 11.278 | 11.756 | Seconds |
| Long jump | 7.76 | 7.36 | 6.94 | 6.51 | Metres |
| Shot put | 18.40 | 16.79 | 15.16 | 13.53 | Metres |
| High jump | 2.20 | 2.10 | 1.99 | 1.88 | Metres |
| 400 m | 46.17 | 48.19 | 50.32 | 52.58 | Seconds |
| 110 m hurdles | 13.80 | 14.59 | 15.419 | 16.29 | Seconds |
| Discus throw | 56.17 | 51.4 | 46.59 | 41.72 | Metres |
| Pole vault | 5.28 | 4.96 | 4.63 | 4.29 | Metres |
| Javelin throw | 77.19 | 70.67 | 64.09 | 57.45 | Metres |
| 1500 m | 3:53.79 | 4:07.42 | 4:21.77 | 4:36.96 | Minutes:Seconds |

### Calculator

| Event | Score | Points |
| 100m | s | 0 |
| Long Jump | cm | 0 |
| Shot Put | m | 0 |
| High Jump | cm | 0 |
| 400m | s | 0 |
| Day One | — | 0 |
| 110mH | s | 0 |
| Discus Throw | m | 0 |
| Pole Vault | cm | 0 |
| Javelin | m | 0 |
| 1500m | m s | 0 |
| Day Two | — | 0 |
| Total | — | 0 |

## Records

The official decathlon world record holder is Kevin Mayer of France, with a score of 9,126 points set during the 2018 Décastar in Talence, France, which was ratified by World Athletics.
| 100 m (wind) | Long jump (wind) | Shot put | High jump | 400 m | 110 m h (wind) | Discus | Pole vault | Javelin | 1500 m |
| 10.55 (+0.3 m/s) | 7.80 m (+1.2 m/s) | 16.00 m | 2.05 m | 48.42 | 13.75 (−1.1 m/s) | 50.54 m | 5.45 m | 71.90 m | 4:36.11 |
The previous record from Ashton Eaton (9,045 points):
| 100 m (wind) | Long jump (wind) | Shot put | High jump | 400 m | 110 m h (wind) | Discus | Pole vault | Javelin | 1500 m |
| 10.23 (−0.4 m/s) | 7.88 m (+0.0 m/s) | 14.52 m | 2.01 m | 45.00 WDB | 13.69 (−0.2 m/s) | 43.34 m | 5.20 m | 63.63 m | 4:17.52 |
| Record | Score | Athlete | Season |
| World | 9,126 | Kevin Mayer (FRA) | 2018 |
| Continental records ||||
| Africa | 8,521 | Larbi Bourrada (ALG) | 2016 |
| Asia | 8,725 | Dmitriy Karpov (KAZ) | 2004 |
| Europe | 9,126 | Kevin Mayer (FRA) | 2018 |
| North, Central America and Caribbean | 9,045 | Ashton Eaton (USA) | 2015 |
| Oceania | 8,649 | Ashley Moloney (AUS) | 2021 |
| South America | 8,393 | Carlos Chinin (BRA) | 2013 |

### Decathlon bests

The total decathlon score for all world records in the respective events would be 12,636. The total decathlon score for all the best performances achieved during decathlons is 10,669. The Difference column shows the difference in points between the decathlon points that the individual current world record would be awarded and the points awarded to the current decathlon record for that event. The relative differences in points are much higher in throwing events than in running and jumping events.
Decathlon bests are only recognized when an athlete completes the ten-event competition with a score of over 7,000 points.
World records (WR) compared to decathlon bests (DB) :
| Event | Type | Athlete | Record | Score | Difference | Date | Place |
| 100 m | WR | Usain Bolt (JAM) | 9.58 s | 1,202 | 136 | 16 August 2009 | Berlin |
| 100 m | DB | Damian Warner (CAN) | 10.12 s | 1,066 | | 25 May 2019 | Götzis |
| 100 m | DB | Damian Warner (CAN) | 10.12 s | 1,066 | | 4 August 2021 | Tokyo |
| Long jump | WR | Mike Powell (USA) | 8.95 m | 1,312 | 134 | 30 August 1991 | Tokyo |
| Long jump | DB | Simon Ehammer (SUI) | 8.45 m | 1,178 | | 28 May 2022 | Götzis |
| Shot put | WR | Ryan Crouser (USA) | 23.56 m | 1,323 | 275 | 27 May 2023 | Los Angeles |
| Shot put | DB | Edy Hubacher (SUI) | 19.17 m | 1,048 | | 5 October 1969 | Bern |
| High jump | WR | Javier Sotomayor (CUB) | 2.45 m | 1,244 | 173 | 27 July 1993 | Salamanca |
| High jump | DB | Derek Drouin (CAN) | 2.28 m | 1,071 | | 7 April 2017 | Santa Barbara |
| 400 m | WR | Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) | 43.03 s | 1,164 | 104 | 14 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro |
| 400 m | DB | Ashton Eaton (USA) | 45.00 s | 1,060 | | 28 August 2015 | Beijing |
| 110 m hurdles | WR | Aries Merritt (USA) | 12.80 s | 1,135 | 76 | 7 September 2012 | Brussels |
| 110 m hurdles | DB | Damian Warner (CAN) | 13.36 s | 1,059 | | 30 May 2021 | Götzis |
| Discus throw | WR | Mykolas Alekna (LTU) | 74.35 m | 1,389 | 357 | 14 April 2024 | Ramona |
| Discus throw | DB | Leo Neugebauer (GER) | 57.70 m | 1,032 | | 6 June 2024 | Eugene |
| Pole vault | WR | Armand Duplantis (SWE) | 6.26 m | 1,318 | 166 | 25 August 2024 | Chorzów |
| Pole vault | DB | Tim Lobinger (GER) | 5.76 m | 1,152 | | 16 September 1999 | Leverkusen |
| Javelin throw | WR | Jan Železný (CZE) | 98.48 m | 1,331 | 291 | 25 May 1996 | Jena |
| Javelin throw | DB | Peter Blank (GER) | 79.80 m | 1,040 | | 19 July 1992 | Emmelshausen |
| 1500 m | WR | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | 3:26.00 min:s | 1,218 | 255 | 14 July 1998 | Rome |
| 1500 m | DB | Robert Baker (USA) | 3:58.7h min:s | 963 | | 3 April 1980 | Austin |
| Total | World records | World records | World records | 12,636 | 1,967 | | |
| Total | Decathlon bests | Decathlon bests | Decathlon bests | 10,669 | | | |

## All-time top 25 men

* Correct as of August 2024.
| Rank | Score | Athlete | Date | Place |
| 1 | 9,126 | Kevin Mayer (FRA) | 15–16 September 2018 | Talence |
| ( 10.55/+0.3 - 7.80/+1.2 - 16.00 - 2.05 - 48.42 / 13.75/-1.1 - 50.54 - 5.45 - 71.90 - 4:36.11 ) |||||
| 2 | 9,045 | Ashton Eaton (USA) | 28–29 August 2015 | Beijing |
| ( 10.23/-0.4 - 7.88/0.0 - 14.52 - 2.01 - 45.00 / 13.69/-0.2 - 43.34 - 5.20 - 63.63 - 4:17.52 ) |||||
| 3 | 9,026 | Roman Šebrle (CZE) | 26–27 May 2001 | Götzis |
| ( 10.64/0.0 - 8.11/+1.9 - 15.33 - 2.12 - 47.79 / 13.92/-0.2 - 47.92 - 4.80 - 70.16 - 4:21.98 ) |||||
| 4 | 9,018 | Damian Warner (CAN) | 4–5 August 2021 | Tokyo |
| ( 10.12/+0.2 - 8.24/+0.2 - 14.80 - 2.02 - 47.48 / 13.46/-1.0 - 48.67 - 4.90 - 63.44 - 4:31.08 ) |||||
| 5 | 8,994 | Tomáš Dvořák (CZE) | 3–4 July 1999 | Prague |
| ( 10.54/-0.1 - 7.90/+1.1 - 16.78 - 2.04 - 48.08 / 13.73/0.0 - 48.33 - 4.90 - 72.32 - 4:37.20 ) |||||
| 6 | 8,961 | Leo Neugebauer (GER) | 5–6 June 2024 | Eugene |
| ( 10.64/+0.1 - 7.86/+0.9 - 17.46 - 2.07 - 48.03 / 14.36/0.0 - 57.70 - 5.21 - 56.64 - 4:44.61 ) |||||
| 7 | 8,909 | Pierce LePage (CAN) | 25–26 August 2023 | Budapest |
| ( 10.45/-0.3 - 7.59/+0.2 - 15.81 - 2.08 - 47.21 / 13.77/+0.2 - 50.98 - 5.20 - 60.90 - 4:39.88 ) |||||
| 8 | 8,891 | Dan O'Brien (USA) | 4–5 September 1992 | Talence |
| ( 10.43/+2.1 - 8.08/+1.8 - 16.69 - 2.07 - 48.51 / 13.98/-0.5 - 48.56 - 5.00 - 62.58 - 4:42.10 ) |||||
| 9 | 8,867 | Garrett Scantling (USA) | 6–7 May 2022 | Fayetteville |
| ( 10.61/-0.3 - 7.68/+2.4 - 16.27 - 2.04 - 47.08 / 14.10/+3.1 - 55.06 - 5.21 - 57.45 - 4:48.00 ) |||||
| 10 | 8,832 | Bryan Clay (USA) | 29–30 June 2008 | Eugene |
| ( 10.39/-0.4 - 7.39/-1.6 - 15.17 - 2.08 - 48.41 / 13.75/+1.9 - 52.74 - 5.00 - 70.55 - 4:50.97 ) |||||
| 11 | 8,815 | Erki Nool (EST) | 6–7 August 2001 | Edmonton |
| ( 10.60/+1.5 - 7.63/+2.0 - 14.90 - 2.03 - 46.23 / 14.40/0.0 - 43.40 - 5.40 - 67.01 - 4:29.58 ) |||||
| 12 | 8,811 | Daley Thompson (GBR) | 27–28 August 1986 | Stuttgart |
| ( 10.26/+2.0 - 7.72/+1.0 - 15.73 - 2.00 - 47.02 / 14.04/-0.3 - 43.38 - 5.10 - 62.78 - 4:26.16 ) |||||
| 13 | 8,796 | Markus Rooth (NOR) | 2–3 August 2024 | Saint-Denis |
| ( 10.71/+0.9 - 7.80/-0.2 - 15.25 - 1.99 - 47.69 / 14.25/+0.2 - 49.80 - 5.30 - 66.87 - 4:39.56 ) |||||
| 14 | 8,790 | Trey Hardee (USA) | 19–20 August 2009 | Berlin |
| ( 10.45/+0.2 - 7.83/+1.9 - 15.33 - 1.99 - 48.13 / 13.86/+0.3 - 48.08 - 5.20 - 68.00 - 4:48.91 ) |||||
| 15 | 8,784 | Tom Pappas (USA) | 21–22 June 2003 | Palo Alto |
| ( 10.78/+0.2 - 7.96/+1.4 - 16.28 - 2.17 - 48.22 / 14.13/+1.7 - 45.84 - 5.20 - 60.77 - 4:48.12 ) |||||
| 16 | 8,764 | Johannes Erm (EST) | 10–11 June 2024 | Rome |
| ( 10.60/+0.4 - 7.91/+0.2 - 14.99 - 1.99 - 46.81 / 14.30/-0.5 - 44.56 - 5.20 - 62.71 - 4:24.95 ) |||||
| 17 | 8,756 | Lindon Victor (GRN) | 25–26 August 2023 | Budapest |
| ( 10.60/+0.1 - 7.55/+1.0 - 15.94 - 2.02 - 48.05 / 14.47/+0.2 - 54.97 - 4.80 - 68.05 - 4:39.67 ) |||||
| 18 | 8,735 | Eduard Hämäläinen (BLR) | 28–29 May 1994 | Götzis |
| ( 10.50/+2.1 - 7.26/+1.0 - 16.05 - 2.11 - 47.63 / 13.82/-3.0 - 49.70 - 4.90 - 60.32 - 4:35.09 ) |||||
| 19 | 8,732 | Ayden Owens-Delerme (PUR) | 17–18 April 2024 | Walnut |
| ( 10.31/+1.9 - 7.77/+2.6 - 16.26 - 1.98 - 47.23 / 13.73/+0.9 - 46.00 - 5.10 - 59.28 - 4:45.59 ) |||||
| 20 | 8,730 | Jürgen Hingsen (FRG) | 27–28 August 1986 | Stuttgart |
| ( 10.87/+2.5 - 7.89/+2.8 - 16.46 - 2.12 - 48.79 / 14.52/-0.3 - 48.42 - 4.60 - 64.38 - 4:21.61 ) |||||
| 21 | 8,725 | Dmitriy Karpov (KAZ) | 23–24 August 2004 | Athens |
| ( 10.50/+2.2 - 7.81/-0.9 - 15.93 - 2.09 - 46.81 / 13.97/+1.5 - 51.65 - 4.60 - 55.54 - 4:38.11 ) |||||
| 22 | 8,720 | Kyle Garland (USA) | 6–7 May 2022 | Fayetteville |
| ( 10.63/+0.9 - 7.86/+1.0 - 16.44 - 2.16 - 49.04 / 13.71/+1.0 - 46.16 - 4.85 - 59.63 - 4:43.21 ) |||||
| 23 | 8,706 | Frank Busemann (GER) | 31 July – 1 August 1996 | Atlanta |
| ( 10.60/ - 8.07/+0.8 - 13.60 - 2.04 - 48.34 / 13.47/+0.3 - 45.04 - 4.80 - 66.86 - 4:31.41 ) |||||
| 24 | 8,705 | Dave Johnson (USA) | 23–24 April 1992 | Azusa |
| ( 10.96/+0.4 - 7.52/+4.5 - 14.61 - 2.04 - 48.19 / 14.17/+0.3 - 49.88 - 5.28 - 66.96 - 4:29.38 ) |||||
| 25 | 8,694 | Chris Huffins (USA) | 19–20 June 1998 | New Orleans |
| ( 10.31/+3.5 - 7.76/+2.5 - 15.43 - 2.18 - 49.02 / 14.02/+1.0 - 53.22 - 4.60 - 61.59 - 4:59.43 ) |||||