At the 2010 Barrientos Memorial - a prestigious annual track and field meet held in Cuba - Yordani García delivered an outstanding performance in the decathlon, scoring 8381 points.
Simon Poelman's personal best of 8366 points is still a New Zealand national record. This was set at the national athletics championships in Christchurch 1987. Poelman secured the New Zealand decathlon title seven times between 1984 and 1992.
Rafer Johnson, a multi-sport high school star who rose from poverty and discrimination, became one of the greatest decathletes in history, ultimately winning Olympic gold in 1960 after a dramatic final event against C.K. Yang.
Kurt Bendlin, a gifted German decathlete, overcame multiple injuries and personal tragedy to set a world record in 1967, and despite repeated setbacks, made several comebacks throughout his career.
Simon Poelman's legacy to New Zealand athletics is that of the greatest all round athlete in it's history. His outstanding and, probably, under developed ability at a wide range of events brought him successes at many major events. He is also
Dan O’Brien’s journey - from dramatic setbacks like missing the 1992 Olympics to dominating world championships and securing Olympic gold - cements his legacy as one of the greatest decathletes ever.
This archive is the definitive resource on the men’s heptathlon from 1970 to 2024 ‐ covering five decades of competitions, evolving rankings, and unforgettable performances. From early trailblazers to modern champions, discover the