In 1910, Sweden, as the host of the fifth Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1912, decided to include a one-day pentathlon (long jump, javelin, 200m, discus, and 500m), as well as a two-day decathlon (100m, long jump, shot, high jump, 400m, 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1500m). In fact, because of the high number of starting athletes, the decathlon was extended to three days. There was also a change in the order of disciplines (between the discus and the 110m hurdles). The original sequence of disciplines was approved by the IAAF Congress in 1914 and has remained unchanged till the present time. Interestingly, in 1912 the Germans held their first decathlon championship in the Westphalian city Muenster. Karl Halt won with 5060 Points.

The point system was changed over the years. For details, please go to my page "Decathlon Point System". Quite a few multi eventers became rather famous in their later life like Avery Brundage (1887-1975), president of the Olympic Committee. Good old Avery did not finish the decathlon at the Olympic Games of 1912 but placed fifth in the pentathlon. The above mentioned Karl Halt (later Karl Ritter von Halt) became first a Fuehrer under the Nazis, later West-German President of the Olympic Committee. Both, Karl & Avery had a questionable reputation. Go figure.

The decathlon is one of the last events of Olympic Games . In 2004, you will find the first statistics for women's decathlon including world records. It was about time.

The best-known decathlon event of non-Olympic years might as well be the Moesle Mehrkampf in Moesle, Austria. Moesle was the event, the Czech Roman Sebrle scored the current world record of 9026 points (20o1).

After my participation in a few pentathlons I'm convinced that I'm on the right track. I feel that I should move from specialization (i.e. middle distances) to the versatility that was so much valued by the ancient Greek. A sport that taxes and trains my whole body and includes a structured weight and strength program should be better for me, at least that is my theory. Now, I'm telling myself that I should move up to the decathlon. Also, Aristotle continues the above mentioned sentence in his Rhetorics: "For one who is able to throw his legs about in a certain way, to move them rapidly and with long strides, makes a good runner; one who can hug and grapple, a good wrestler; one who can thrust away by a blow of the fist, a good boxer; one who excels in boxing and wrestling is fit for the pancratium, he who excels in all for the pentathlon." "The most perfect sportsmen, therefore, are the pentathletes because in their bodies strength and speed are combined in beautiful harmony." Who am I to argue with a sports writer?

Funny, whenever decathlon comes up, I think of the German Willi Holdord. Willi had one of the shortest careers of all times. He won the Olympics but I don't think he competed more than a dozen contests. Next, he became a bob sledder. Still, I'm almost sure I will not follow in his footsteps.

Over the last couple of months, I visited and watched decathlons, the last at the Senior World Championships in San Sebastian. I have my javelin, my discus and bought a shot. Now, I need a stick for the pole vault, hopefully to jump and not to walk. In Jimmy Fuller, I found a good coach for the running and jumping events. Brian Magerkurth will get me over the hump in the Pole Vault. It will all be very difficult but I'm fully motivated.

Decathlons demand the total athlete. The first discipline is the 100 m. A good decathlete runs the 100 m in about 11 seconds or faster. On tenth of a second will give you about 20 to 30 Points, depending on your overall level. The fastest 100 m time in a decathlon? 10.22 by Chris Huffins, USA 1996! Next comes the long jump. You only have three tries to get your optimal distance. A good long jump in the decathlon must be over 7.50 m, each additional 10 cm will give you around 25 points (see also the Point Page). The best result in the long jump? Erki Nool fo Estland jumped 8.22 m in 1996. The third event is the shot put, the first throwing event of the decathlon. A good athlete hurls the 7.25 kg shot between 15 and 16 meter and each additional meter will give you 60 points. The best shot put result? Swiss meister Edy Hubacher's shot landed at 19.17 meter and the year was 1969! The fourth event is the high jump and you have three tries over each height. Good decathletes will reach about 2.03 m and each additional centimeter will give you around 9 points. Rolf Beilschmidt of East Germany jumped 2.27 m in 1977 and Christian Schenk matched it in 1988. Both rolled the height in the straddle! The last event of day one is the 400 m, the long sprint (I have a love-hate relationship with the 400 m.) A good result of total oxygen deficit running would be a time below 49 seconds. Back in 1968, Mr. Bill Toomey of the USA ran a sleek 45.68 seconds and he is still the best decathlete. Each second will get you 40 points to your total and closer to throwing up.

In the first disciplin of day two you have to face the high hurdles. Run over obstacles 1.067 meters high and lift your leading leg every 9. 14 meters, in the open competition at least. A good result would be a 14.5 seconds in the 110 m. In 1996, Mr. Frank Busemann of Germany ran a cool 13.47. Each tenth of a second would have added 11 to 14 points. The second event of day two is the discus. Hurl the 2 kg disc 46 to 47 meters and you are in the ball game. Don't tell Norbert Demmel of Germany. In 1996, his discus landed after a flight of 55.25 meters. And that's a best since 752 B.C. to the best of my knowledge. The next and third event of day two is the pole vault. Good decathletes jump about 5 meters but Jean Galfionne jumped higher in 1996. I don't know how high, so. He got 30 points or so for each 10 centimeters. Event number nine is the javelin. Good athletes throw the thing over 60 meters. Peter Blank of Germany threw the darn thing 79.80 m and the year was 1992. For each additional meter, Peter would have added about 18 points. In the last and final event of the decathlon, the 1500 m out very own Robert Baker ran 3:58.7 and the year was 1980. That's still the best! Good guys run about 4:25 today. Go Bob! One second gets you 7 points. Now, I have to check the bests as I know that our Brian Clay bettered one of the marks in 2005.

The decathlete is not the best specialist in all events. But he has to be better than average in his worst event and world class in his best events. Perfection is an illusion if you have to concentrate on three jumping , running and throwing events and the high hurdles as well. You need to compromise and therein lies the beauty of the event. Compromise to get the highest point total, a truly strange concept. You need to improve the technical aspect of all events, you need to get stronger without losing speed and jumping abilities. And you need to improve your endurance to be out there for 8 to 10 hours each day of the competition. You don't have to be first to win the event, scoring maximum points is the goal. You are not competing against your fellow athletes. You compete against the point tables. Very seldom, a personal animosity or vendetta against a fellow decathlete develops. You don't see other competing athletes as adversaries. You fight against your own standards and all other athletes are assisting you in your struggle. Personal bests are your main objectives.