As a supplement to the Fair Decathlon Model (FDM) series, we are publishing the complete event scoring table covering the full range from 100 to 1200 points.
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This article asks whether the decathlon’s own performance data can provide enough information to calibrate a fair scoring system without relying primarily on elite athletes. Using 27, 741 complete decathlons—and a separate dataset excluding all
Oleksandr Apaichev achieved a personal best of 8709 points during a dual meet between the Soviet Union and East Germany in Neubrandenburg in 1984. This score remains the Ukrainian national record. After retiring from competitive athletics,
Christian Plaziat was key in elevating French decathlon to world ‐class status and held the national record until the rise of Kevin Mayer. Despite his Olympic setbacks, his charisma, consistency, and indoor indoor dominance made him a
Valter Külvet was a highly gifted Estonian decathlete who competed for the Soviet Union during his main international career. He set Estonian senior decathlon records: 8332 points in 1987 and 8506 points in 1988.
Roman Šebrle became the first decathlete ever to achieve over 9000 points, setting the World Record at 9026 points (Götzis 2001), succeeding his compatriot, Tomaš Dvorak, who had scored 8994 points two years earlier (Prague 1999).
Robert de Wit dominated nationally, winning the Dutch decathlon title multiple times in 1981, 1982, 1984 and 1988. He set his personal best of 8447 points in May 1988 at a meet in Eindhoven.