The decathlon and heptathlon are combined events in athletics, where one athlete competes in several running, jumping and throwing events. The winner is often called the world’s greatest all round athlete. Here is how they work.
The decathlon
The decathlon is the men’s combined event at the Olympics, with ten events over two days.
**Day one:**
- 100 metres
- Long jump
- Shot put
- High jump
- 400 metres
**Day two:**
- 110 metres hurdles
- Discus throw
- Pole vault
- Javelin throw
- 1500 metres
The heptathlon
The heptathlon is the women’s combined event at the Olympics, with seven events over two days.
**Day one:**
- 100 metres hurdles
- High jump
- Shot put
- 200 metres
**Day two:**
- Long jump
- Javelin throw
- 800 metres
How points work
In each event, the athlete’s time, height or distance is converted into points using official scoring tables of World Athletics. Better performances get more points. The points from all events are added, and the athlete with the highest total wins. There is no prize for winning individual events.
This means consistency matters more than being the best in one event. A very weak result in any event can ruin the total.
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Rules
- The events must be held in the fixed order.
- Athletes get three attempts in the long jump and throws, unlike six in individual events.
- In running events, an athlete is disqualified from that race after a false start as per current rules, but can continue in later events.
- An athlete who does not start an event is out of the competition.
Why it is tough
Athletes need speed, strength, endurance and technique. The 1500 metres in the decathlon and the 800 metres in the heptathlon come at the end, when the athletes are already tired.
India’s stars
- **Swapna Barman** won gold in the heptathlon at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, despite a tooth infection, becoming the first Indian to win Asian Games gold in the event.
- **Nandini Agasara** won bronze in the heptathlon at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, held in 2023.
- Indian decathletes have won medals at Asian Championships over the years.
Other combined events
Indoor competitions use the pentathlon for women and the heptathlon for men, with fewer events.
Bottom line
Decathlon and heptathlon test every athletic skill. The winner is the most complete athlete, not the fastest or strongest in one event.
Source / स्रोत: World Athletics, Athletics Federation of India
