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.

Ramil Ganiyev holds the Uzbekistan national record in decathlon with 8445 points from his performance in Athens 1997. Also holds the indoor heptathlon record for Uzbekistan with 5918 points scored in Sofia 1990.

Decathlon was won by Larbi Bourrada of Algeria, who set a new African record with a score of 8302 points