Gunnar Nixon won the men’s decathlon at the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona with a world-leading 8018 points, becoming U20 world champion ahead of Jake Stein and Tim Dekker.
Robert Zmelík wasn’t unbeatable in every meet, but in Barcelona 1992, nobody else combined consistency, peak fitness, and mental resilience as well as he did. That’s why, on that stage, he was the best.
Romain Barras won European decathlon gold in Barcelona 2010 with a personal best of 8453 points and claimed that year’s IAAF World Combined Events Challenge title. The French decathlete also won Universiade gold in Daegu 2003 and Mediterranean
Alain Blondel is a former French decathlete best known for winning the gold medal at the 1994 European Championships and for representing France at the Olympic level during his international athletics career.
Sébastien Levicq finished fourth at the Sevilla 1999 World Championships with a decathlon personal best of 8524 points. The French decathlete won Universiade gold in Buffalo 1993 and European Cup Super League bronze in Prague 1999.
Andrei Nazarov achieved a decathlon best of 8322 points in Sochi 1987 and scored 6098 in the indoor heptathlon in Lipetsk 1991. The Estonian finished eighth at the Split 1990 European Championships and 14th at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.
Antonio Penalver won Olympic decathlon silver with 8412 points in Barcelona 1992 and European indoor heptathlon bronze in Genova the same year. His 8534 ‐point wind ‐assisted performance in Alhama de Murcia 1992 also produced an
Christian Plaziat won European decathlon gold in Split 1990 with a French record of 8574 points. He also claimed two European indoor heptathlon titles, setting a world record of 6418 in Genova 1992, before winning the world indoor title in
Dan O’Brien won Olympic decathlon gold in Atlanta 1996 and three consecutive world titles in 1991, 1993 and 1995. The American set a world record of 8891 points in Talence 1992 and added the world indoor heptathlon title with a record 6476
Dave Johnson won Olympic decathlon bronze in Barcelona 1992 despite a stress fracture in his right foot. The American also claimed Universiade gold in Duisburg 1989 and Goodwill Games gold in Seattle 1990, achieving his highest score of 8727
Dezső Szabó won European decathlon silver in Split 1990 with a Hungarian record of 8436 points and finished fourth at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics. He also claimed Universiade gold in Fukuoka 1995 and European indoor heptathlon silver with a
Robert Zmelik won Olympic decathlon gold with 8611 points in Barcelona 1992 and became world indoor heptathlon champion in Paris 1997. He achieved his decathlon personal best of 8627 points in Götzis 1992 and scored 6228 points for his world
Robert de Wit set a Dutch decathlon record of 8447 points in Eindhoven 1988 and finished eighth at the Seoul Olympics that year. He also placed fourth in the heptathlon at the Genova 1992 European Indoor Championships with a national record of 6023
The Decathlon's nice in that you get to know the other athletes. It's almost like everyone helps each other out. We're all out there trying to win, but at the same time there's a friendship there too. It's always fun going to meets and catching up with the other guys - Tom Pappas