Articles by countries

Almost 40 years ago in Los Angeles (during XXIII Olympiade) only five points appeared to be the difference between Gold and Silver medalists at women’s Heptathlon…..

The purpose of this paper is to examine the purpose of training smarter and aim to produce more points by working smart

Ashton Eaton was the 2nd decathlete to break the 9000 ‐point barrier. He is a former decathlon World Record holder (9045 points scored in Beijing 2015) and heptathlon World Record holder (6645 points scored in Istanbul 2012). He won an …

Bruce Jenner won an Olympic gold medal at the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976

At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Bruce Jenner captured gold in the men’s decathlon, cementing his place in athletic history

Diverted off the troubled path of his childhood, Bryan Clay went on to become one of the most decorated decathletes of all time. He won an Olympic gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games (2008) and became decathlon World Champion in Helsinki 2005.

If Honolulu's Bryan Clay had all his personal-best marks in the same meet, he would break the world decathlon scoring record.

Chris Huffins is a former American decathlete and Olympic bronze medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Dan O’Brien won an Olympic gold medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games (1996). He is triple decathlon World champion (1991, 1993, 1995) and a former World Record holder (8891 points scored in Talence 1992).

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.

Dave Johnson is a former American decathlete best known for winning the bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics and for his role in the famous “Dan vs. Dave” campaign. The “Dan vs. Dave” campaign was a major advertising promotion by Reebok …

Stories From the Passenger Seat: Lessons Learned From a Lifetime of Coaching by Harry Marra

Devon Williams is an American decathlete, 2019 U. S. decathlon champion, and former NCAA Indoor Heptathlon champion for the University of Georgia. He has a personal best of 8345 points in the decathlon and competed at the 2017 World …

Garrett Scantling achieved a personal best of 8867 points at the 2022 USATF Combined Events Championships. He banned for three years for doping offences. Scantling’s three ‐year period of ineligibility started on June 27 2022, the date he …

The Goodwill Games were a high-profile Cold War era competition bringing together top athletes from East and West, where Dave Johnson won decathlon gold at the 1990 Goodwill Games with 8403 points, ahead of Dan O'Brien.

2023 U.S. Outdoor Track & Field Champion: Harrison Williams clinched his first U.S. decathlon title with a personal best of 8630 points

Heath Baldwin won the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene with a personal best of 8625 points

Jeremy Taiwo’s career-best came at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene when he scored 8425 points, finishing second only to Ashton Eaton and qualifying for Rio Olympics

A Legacy Larger Than Sport

Jon Ryan Harlan is an American former decathlete who captured the 2004 NCAA title and went on to become one of the nation’s top all-around athletes before transitioning into a successful coaching career in Houston.

Kip Janvrin is the ultimate decathlete. What a remarkably enduring, high ‐quality career! Janvrin won the 1989 U. S. Olympic Festival, the 1995 Pan Am Games, the 2001 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and a record 15 decathlons at …

Kyle Garland recently set a new personal best of 8869 points in the decathlon at the 2025 USATF. At the 2022 USA Combined Events Championships in Fayetteville, Kyle Garland tallied 8720 points, breaking the NCAA decathlon record.

In Des Moines, Iowa, Michael Morrison won the NCAA Outdoor decathlon title with 8118 points.

Dan O'Brien had famously missed the 1992 Olympics due to a failed pole vault in the U.S. trials, but redeemed himself in Atlanta by taking the gold. His Olympic victory was seen as the final crowning achievement in a legendary career.

Daley Thompson successfully defended his Olympic title, having also won the 1980 Moscow Games. The rivalry between Thompson and Jürgen Hingsen was one of the big storylines: both were world record holders in the early 1980s, and their duels …

Paul Terek's personal best in the decathlon came at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento where he scored 8312 points and finished in 3rd place to earn a spot in the Athens Olympic Games.

Peyton Bair’s 6503 points was a record-setting collegiate heptathlon performance at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas, placing him sixth all-time worldwide.

Oregon’s Peyton Bair, the defending NCAA Indoor heptathlon champion, set a world-leading score of 6371 points to break the meet record of 6272 set by Razorback Ayden Owens in 2022.

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.

Robert Jacob Arnold made history by becoming the first athlete in over 20 years to win back ‐to ‐back NCAA decathlon titles in 2006 and 2007, competing for the University of Arizona. He earned bronze medals in the decathlon at the 2006 …

Peyton Bair scored 6503 points for a season-best in the men’s heptathlon

A lesson in just one aspect of how sport science can and needs to be applied to all athletic skill teaching

Steve Fritz missed an Olympic medal by 20 points in Atlanta 1996. He had finished the best competition of his life, scoring 8644 points. That got him 4th place.

Steve Fritz had finished the best competition of his life, scoring 8644 points, more than Bruce Jenner produced to win the Montreal gold. That got him only fourth place.

This short essay broadly touches on a few of the many areas a coach needs to develop in order to become a master in the Art of Coaching

Tom Pappas became the Decathlon World Champion in Paris 2003. He was the winner of the 2003 IAAF Combined Events Challenge.

Here are some helpful guidelines for you to consider when you start training your decathletes in the pole vault

Trey Hardee won an Olympic silver medal at the London Olympic Games 2012 and he is double Decathlon World Champion (2009, 2011). Winner of the 2009 IAAF Combined Events Challenge.

That trio - Eaton, Taiwo, and Ziemek - confirmed Team USA’s decathlon lineup for Rio 2016

A complete history of the US Championships highlights all-time decathlon records and champions, showcasing the nation’s finest performances and winners across the years.

Ashton Eaton Broke the World Record in the Decathlon at the 2012 USA Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon

Men’s decathlon at the 1984 USA Championships / U.S. Olympic Trials was held in Los Angeles (Memorial Coliseum) on June 21–22, 1984. Decathlon at those Trials started with an unusually large entry.