Robert Zmelík’s Olympic triumph helped spark a golden era for Czech decathlon. He inspired future stars like world record holders Tomáš Dvořák and Roman Šebrle.
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.
Mike Maczey represented Germany at its highest level - national champion twice, Olympic competitor, and placed in the top eight at European Championships. At Götzis 2000 he posted his lifetime best - 8461 points.
Jon Arnar Magnusson is the Icelandic record holder at 110m hurdles, long jump and decathlon. He set numerous national records, secured multiple international indoor medals in heptathlon, and consistently ranked among the world’s elite decathletes.
Jiri Ryba achieved 6th place at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, Canada, scoring 8332 points. He secured a bronze medal at the 1995 European Junior Championships in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, with 7271 points.
Jagan Hames is the Commonwealth Games Champion in Decathlon (1998, Kuala Lumpur). He won gold with a stunning 8490 points, setting both Australian and Oceania records - an achievement that stood for over two decades (until 2021).
Jaakko Ojaniemi’s top decathlon score of 8192 points was achieved at the 2002 European Championships in München. His international medal collection is almost entirely from junior and U23 competitions.
Indrek Kaseorg is the four-time Estonian decathlon champion in 1991, 1993, 2001 and 2003. His personal best in the decathlon is 8179 points, achieved in 1998.
Henrik Dagård’s decathlon personal best of 8403 points, set in Talence in 1994, stood as the Swedish national record for nearly 15 years - until Nicklas Wiberg surpassed it in 2009.
Gernot Kellermayr is the Austrian decathlon record holder. In 1993, he was one of several Austrian athletes (alongside Andreas Berger, Franz Ratzenberger, Thomas Renner) who tested positive for the anabolic steroid Metandienone (or
Ashley Moloney won an Olympic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games (2021). He is the Australian decathlon record holder. He becoming the first Australian decathlete ever to medal at the Olympics.
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.