A two-day men's multi-event athletics competition combining ten track and field disciplines scored on a points table.
Origin and rules
Multi-event competition traces to the ancient Greek pentathlon. The modern decathlon, with ten events, was added to the Olympic programme at Stockholm 1912. Athletes accumulate points across the events according to a standard scoring table.
How it plays
Day one features the 100 metres, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400 metres. Day two features the 110-metre hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1500 metres. The athlete with the highest total points wins.
Competition
The Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships are the leading championships. Daley Thompson, Roman Sebrle, and Ashton Eaton are celebrated champions. Kevin Mayer of France holds the world record at 9126 points, set in 2018.