World Record (0)

Decathlon scores from the 1920s are difficult to compare directly with modern world records because the scoring tables have changed several times. New tables were introduced in 1920, 1934, 1950, 1964 and 1985. Explore the full men’s decathlon world record progression to follow these performances across different scoring systems.

Šebrle’s 9026 points

Before 27 May 2001, Roman Šebrle had a personal best of 8757 points and an Olympic silver medal from Sydney 2000. Yet he often competed in the shadow of his Czech compatriot Tomáš Dvořák, the reigning world champion and world record holder. Dvořák’s record of 8994 points had left him just short of the 9000-point barrier.

At Götzis, much of the attention was on whether Dvořák could improve his own record. Instead, Šebrle produced personal bests in five events and became the first decathlete to exceed 9000 points. After an outstanding opening day, he was already 30 points ahead of Dvořák’s pace during his world record performance.

The second day proved more difficult. Šebrle lost ground against Dvořák’s record pace in several events, and even a javelin throw beyond 70 metres left him 68 points behind with only the 1500 m remaining.

However, Dvořák’s 1500 m time offered an opportunity. Šebrle needed to run faster than approximately 4:26 to break the record. With help from Attila Zsivoczky, one of the strongest 1500 m runners among the decathletes, he finished in 4:21.98 and reached 9026 points.

Götzis, where Roman Šebrle scored a world record of 9026 points on 27 May 2001, becoming the first decathlete to break the 9000-point barrier.

Eaton’s 9039 points

Eleven years later, Ashton Eaton challenged Šebrle’s record at the 2012 US Olympic Trials in Eugene. Their event-by-event scores show how often the advantage changed during Eaton’s pursuit of 9039 points.

Eaton opened with a 102-point advantage over Šebrle’s record pace in the 100 m and extended it to 133 points after the long jump. His lead fell to 64 points after the shot put, and the high jump left him one point behind. A strong 400 m brought Eaton back in front, ending the first day 53 points ahead of Šebrle’s record pace.

The lead continued to change on the second day. Eaton moved 82 points ahead after the hurdles, then fell 23 points behind after the discus. A 5.30 m pole vault gave him a 132-point advantage, but the javelin left him 39 points behind with one event remaining.

By then, Eaton and his coach, Harry Marra, knew that the world record was within reach. Eaton finished the 1500 m in 4:14.48, running 7.50 seconds faster than Šebrle had in 2001 and gaining the 52 points he needed. His final total of 9039 improved the world record by 13 points.

Eaton’s 9045 points

Three years later, Eaton raised the record again at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing. His outstanding 45.00 in the 400 m was the fastest time ever recorded within a decathlon, but even that left him slightly behind his 2012 record pace at the end of the first day.

The breakthrough came in the javelin. A throw of 63.63 m put Eaton ahead of his previous record pace and left one final challenge: the 1500 m. He finished in 4:17.52, retaining his world title and improving his own world record by six points to 9045.

Mayer’s 9126 points

Kevin Mayer arrived at Talence in September 2018 with unfinished business. Three fouls in the long jump had ended his hopes at the European Championships in Berlin a month earlier. This time, he opened with personal bests of 10.55 in the 100 m and 7.80 m in the long jump, setting the scene for a very different weekend.

His strongest challenge to Eaton’s record came on the second day. After throwing the discus 50.54 m, Mayer cleared 5.45 m in the pole vault and launched the javelin a personal best of 71.90 m. With 8421 points after nine events, the record was firmly within reach.

Roared on by the home crowd, Mayer completed the 1500 m in 4:36.11. His total of 9126 improved Eaton’s record by 81 points and made him the first French decathlon world record holder.