Mikko Malmivuo

Gunther and Rafal,

very good comments. it's of course easier to compare events in the elite level, because we have so much more data than from novice level. But there is still data. I'm from Finland, but I have once participated in "Jedermann Decathlon" in Austria So we do have data from novice decathlons. I can't say right away, what should be comparable results in 1, 100, 200 etc point levels. It needs research. The example of Gunther seamed a lot better than current official score table. But one thing is for sure, as Rafal mentioned, 1 point should be possible for any healthy individual without any specific training.

Of course 110m hurdles with official 106,7cm height is often impossible even for sporty novices. Should we have there a hurdle lowering factor for novices? For example, every centimeter below official hurdle height gives you 10 point less -> you will be able to perform the event, but with less points. Or something like that.

My comment: I have always thought that athletics is for anyone, not just for elite athletes. I think decathlon score tables should also be for anyone. That means, the scores should be comparable also in the lower end of the score table. But they are not. You need to run 400m in 1min21seconds to get 1 point. In shot put, the corresponding result is 1.54 meters. That's not a shot put, that's a shot drop. 200 points in shot put equals 5,15 meters, a result any healthy grown up can achieve without training. 200 points in 400m equals 67,3 seconds, which already needs training or talent. Why to have a scoring table reaching from 1 point to 1200 points, when you can't fairly use the table below 400 points. I have had several decathlons with my friends, when there have been participants trying certain events for the first time. Every time we realize, that decathlon scoring tables are quite useless for these kind of meetings.