Combined events at the Olympics
Combined events at the Olympic Games | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Sport | Athletics |
Gender | Men and women |
Years held | Men's decathlon: 1956 – 2020 Women's heptathlon: 1984 – 2020 Women's pentathlon: 1964 – 1980 |
Olympic record | |
Men | 9018 pts Damian Warner (2020) |
Women | 7291 pts Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1988) |
Reigning champion | |
Men | Damian Warner (CAN) |
Women | Nafissatou Thiam (BEL) |
Combined events at the Summer Olympics have been contested in several formats at the multi-sport event. There are two combined track and field events in the current Olympic athletics programme: a men's decathlon (100 metres, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400 metres, 110 metres hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1500 metres) and a women's heptathlon (100 metres hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 metres, long jump, javelin throw, and 800 metres).
The first men's events came at the 1904 Summer Olympics: a triathlon had long jump, shot put, and 100-yard dash events, while an all-around championship saw athletes compete over ten events, forming the basis for the decathlon.[1] No combined events were held at the subsequent games, but the 1912 Summer Olympics saw the introduction of the modern decathlon event and also a men's pentathlon (which lasted for three games). The first women's event came in 1964 in the form of the women's pentathlon. This was amended to include two more events, becoming the heptathlon at the 1984 Summer Olympics, reflecting the development of women's sport.
The Olympic record in the decathlon is 9018 points, set by Canadian athlete Damian Warner in 2021. Jackie Joyner-Kersee's score of 7291 points to win in 1988 is both the current Olympic and world record for the heptathlon – this remains the only occasion that record has been broken at the Olympics. The men's decathlon world record has had a strong link with the competition, with the Olympic gold medalist breaking the world record in 1928, 1932, 1936, 1952, 1972, 1976, and 1984.[2]
Five men have won two Olympic combined event titles. Bob Mathias, Daley Thompson and Ashton Eaton have all won back-to-back decathlon titles, Jim Thorpe won both the decathlon and pentathlon titles in 1912, and Eero Lehtonen won two Olympic pentathlon titles. Jackie Joyner-Kersee is the most successful athlete, having won two Olympic heptathlon titles and, with her further silver medal, is the only combined events competitor to have won three Olympic medals.
In 1912, Thorpe was designated the "World's Greatest Athlete" by Gustav V of Sweden and this title is traditionally given to the reigning Olympic decathlon champion in the media.[3][4] Thorpe's two gold medals were stripped in 1913 on the grounds that he had broken amateurism rules (having taken expense money for playing baseball), but the International Olympic Committee restored him as the champion in 1982, 30 years after his death, admitting that the protest against Thorpe’s eligibility was not brought within required 30 days (other medalists were not demoted).[5]
The 1906 Intercalated Games, now not considered an official Olympic event, featured an event based on the Ancient Olympic pentathlon, combining four track and field events with a wrestling match.
Medal summary[]
Men's decathlon[]
Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
1912 Stockholm |
Jim Thorpe United States |
Charles Lomberg Sweden |
Gösta Holmér Sweden |
Hugo Wieslander Sweden | |||
1920 Antwerp |
Helge Løvland Norway |
Brutus Hamilton United States |
Bertil Ohlson Sweden |
1924 Paris |
Harold Osborn United States |
Emerson Norton United States |
Aleksander Klumberg Estonia |
1928 Amsterdam |
Paavo Yrjölä Finland |
Akilles Järvinen Finland |
Ken Doherty United States |
1932 Los Angeles |
Jim Bausch United States |
Akilles Järvinen Finland |
Wolrad Eberle Germany |
1936 Berlin |
Glenn Morris United States |
Bob Clark United States |
Jack Parker United States |
1948 London |
Bob Mathias United States |
Ignace Heinrich France |
Floyd Simmons United States |
1952 Helsinki |
Bob Mathias United States |
Milt Campbell United States |
Floyd Simmons United States |
1956 Melbourne |
Milt Campbell United States |
Rafer Johnson United States |
Vasili Kuznetsov Soviet Union |
1960 Rome |
Rafer Johnson United States |
Yang Chuan-kwang Formosa |
Vasili Kuznetsov Soviet Union |
1964 Tokyo |
Willi Holdorf United Team of Germany |
Rein Aun Soviet Union |
Hans-Joachim Walde United Team of Germany |
1968 Mexico City |
Bill Toomey United States |
Hans-Joachim Walde West Germany |
Kurt Bendlin West Germany |
1972 Munich |
Mykola Avilov Soviet Union |
Leonid Lytvynenko Soviet Union |
Ryszard Katus Poland |
1976 Montreal |
Bruce Jenner United States[a] |
Guido Kratschmer West Germany |
Mykola Avilov Soviet Union |
1980 Moscow |
Daley Thompson Great Britain |
Yuriy Kutsenko Soviet Union |
Sergei Zhelanov Soviet Union |
1984 Los Angeles |
Daley Thompson Great Britain |
Jürgen Hingsen West Germany |
Siegfried Wentz West Germany |
1988 Seoul |
Christian Schenk East Germany |
Torsten Voss East Germany |
Dave Steen Canada |
1992 Barcelona |
Robert Změlík Czechoslovakia |
Antonio Peñalver Spain |
Dave Johnson United States |
1996 Atlanta |
Dan O'Brien United States |
Frank Busemann Germany |
Tomáš Dvořák Czech Republic |
2000 Sydney |
Erki Nool Estonia |
Roman Šebrle Czech Republic |
Chris Huffins United States |
2004 Athens |
Roman Šebrle Czech Republic |
Bryan Clay United States |
Dmitriy Karpov Kazakhstan |
2008 Beijing |
Bryan Clay United States |
Andrei Krauchanka Belarus |
Leonel Suárez Cuba |
2012 London |
Ashton Eaton United States |
Trey Hardee United States |
Leonel Suárez Cuba |
2016 Rio De Janeiro |
Ashton Eaton United States |
Kevin Mayer France |
Damian Warner Canada |
2020 Tokyo |
Damian Warner Canada |
Kevin Mayer France |
Ashley Moloney Australia |
Multiple medalists[]
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Olympics | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1= | Bob Mathias | United States (USA) | 1948–1952 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
1= | Daley Thompson | Great Britain (GBR) | 1980–1984 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
1= | Ashton Eaton | United States (USA) | 2008–2016 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
4= | Milt Campbell | United States (USA) | 1952–1956 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
4= | Rafer Johnson | United States (USA) | 1956–1960 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
4= | Roman Šebrle | Czech Republic (CZE) | 2000–2004 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
4= | Bryan Clay | United States (USA) | 2004–2008 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
8= | Mykola Avilov | Soviet Union (URS) | 1972–1976 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
8= | Damian Warner | Canada (CAN) | 2016–2020 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
10= | Akilles Järvinen | Finland (FIN) | 1928–1932 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
10= | Kevin Mayer | France (FRA) | 2016–2020 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
12 | Hans-Joachim Walde | West Germany (FRG) United Team of Germany (EUA) |
1964–1968 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
13= | Floyd Simmons | United States (USA) | 1948–1952 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
13= | Vasili Kuznetsov | Soviet Union (URS) | 1956–1960 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
13= | Leonel Suárez | Cuba (CUB) | 2008–2012 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Medals by country[]
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | United States (USA) | 14 | 8 | 7 | 29 |
2 | Great Britain (GBR) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
3 | Soviet Union (URS) | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
4 | Finland (FIN) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
5= | Germany (GER)[nb] | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
5= | Sweden (SWE) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
7 | Czech Republic (CZE) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
8 | East Germany (GDR) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
9 | Canada (CAN) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
10 | Estonia (EST) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
11= | Czechoslovakia (TCH) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
11= | Norway (NOR) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
13 | West Germany (FRG) | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
14 | France (FRA) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
15= | Belarus (BLR) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
15= | Republic of China (ROC) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
15= | Spain (ESP) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
18 | Cuba (CUB) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
19= | Kazakhstan (KAZ) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
19= | Poland (POL) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
19= | Australia (AUS) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
- nb The German total includes teams both competing as Germany and the United Team of Germany, but not East or West Germany.
Women's heptathlon[]
Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
1984 Los Angeles |
Glynis Nunn Australia |
Jackie Joyner United States |
Sabine Everts West Germany |
1988 Seoul |
Jackie Joyner-Kersee United States |
Sabine John East Germany |
Anke Behmer East Germany |
1992 Barcelona |
Jackie Joyner-Kersee United States |
Irina Belova Unified Team |
Sabine Braun Germany |
1996 Atlanta |
Ghada Shouaa Syria |
Natallia Sazanovich Belarus |
Denise Lewis Great Britain |
2000 Sydney |
Denise Lewis Great Britain |
Yelena Prokhorova Russia |
Natallia Sazanovich Belarus |
2004 Athens |
Carolina Klüft Sweden |
Austra Skujytė Lithuania |
Kelly Sotherton Great Britain |
2008 Beijing |
Nataliya Dobrynska Ukraine |
Hyleas Fountain United States |
Kelly Sotherton Great Britain |
2012 London |
Jessica Ennis Great Britain |
Lilli Schwarzkopf Germany |
Austra Skujytė Lithuania |
2016 Rio de Janeiro |
Nafissatou Thiam Belgium |
Jessica Ennis-Hill Great Britain |
Brianne Theisen-Eaton Canada |
2020 Tokyo |
Nafissatou Thiam Belgium |
Anouk Vetter Netherlands |
Emma Oosterwegel Netherlands |
Multiple medalists[]
Seven women have won multiple medals in Olympic heptathlon, while an eighth achieved this feat in the earlier Olympic Pentathlon. OF these, only Jackie Joyner-Kersee has won three medals.
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Olympics | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jackie Joyner-Kersee | United States (USA) | 1984–1992 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
2 | Nafissatou Thiam | Belgium (BEL) | 2016–2020 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
3 | Jessica Ennis | Great Britain (GBR) | 2012–2016 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
4 | Denise Lewis | Great Britain (GBR) | 1996–2000 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
5= | Natallia Sazanovich | Belarus (BLR) | 1996–2000 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Austra Skujytė | Lithuania (LTU) | 2004–2012 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
7 | Kelly Sotherton | Great Britain (GBR) | 2004–2008 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
[b] | Burglinde Pollak | East Germany (GDR) | 1972–1976 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Medals by country[]
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | United States (USA) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
2 | Great Britain (GBR) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
3 | Belgium (BEL) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
4= | Australia (AUS) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
4= | Sweden (SWE) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
4= | Syria (SYR) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
4= | Ukraine (UKR) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
8= | Russia (RUS) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
8= | Belarus (BLR) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
8= | East Germany (GDR) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
8= | Germany (GER) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
8= | Lithuania (LTU) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
8= | Netherlands (NED) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
14 | Unified Team (EUN) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
15= | Canada (CAN) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
15= | West Germany (FRG) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Defunct events[]
Men's all-around[]
Consisted of 100 yards, shot put, high jump, 880 yd walk, hammer throw, pole vault, 120 yd hurdles, weight throw, long jump and mile run.
Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
1904 St. Louis |
Tom Kiely (GBR) | Adam Gunn (USA) | Truxtun Hare (USA) |
Men's triathlon[]
Consisted of long jump, shot put, and 100 yards.
Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
1904 St. Louis |
Max Emmerich (USA) | John Grieb (USA) | William Merz (USA) |
Men's pentathlon[]
Consisted of long jump, javelin throw, 200 metres, discus throw, and 1500 metres. Eero Lehtonen was the most successful athlete in the event's three-edition history, winning two of the three gold medals on offer and being the only person to reach the podium twice.
Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
1912 Stockholm |
Ferdinand Bie Norway |
James Donahue United States |
Frank Lukeman Canada |
Jim Thorpe United States | |||
1920 Antwerp |
Eero Lehtonen Finland |
Everett Bradley United States |
Hugo Lahtinen Finland |
1924 Paris |
Eero Lehtonen Finland |
Elemér Somfay Hungary |
Robert LeGendre United States |
Women's pentathlon[]
Consisted of 100 metres hurdles, shot put, high jump, long jump, and 200 metres. In 1980, the 200 metres was replaced by the 800 metres. Burglinde Pollak, a bronze medalist in 1972 and 1976, was the only woman to win two Olympic pentathlon medals during its five-edition history.
Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
1964 Tokyo |
Irina Press Soviet Union |
Mary Rand Great Britain |
Galina Bystrova Soviet Union |
1968 Mexico City |
Ingrid Becker West Germany |
Liese Prokop Austria |
Annamária Tóth Hungary |
1972 Munich |
Mary Peters Great Britain |
Heide Rosendahl West Germany |
Burglinde Pollak East Germany |
1976 Montreal |
Siegrun Siegl East Germany |
Christine Laser East Germany |
Burglinde Pollak East Germany |
1980 Moscow |
Nadiya Tkachenko Soviet Union |
Olga Rukavishnikova Soviet Union |
Olga Kuragina Soviet Union |
Intercalated Games[]
The 1906 Intercalated Games were held in Athens and at the time were officially recognised as part of the Olympic Games series, with the intention being to hold a games in Greece in two-year intervals between the internationally held Olympics. However, this plan never came to fruition and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later decided not to recognise these games as part of the official Olympic series. Some sports historians continue to treat the results of these games as part of the Olympic canon.[7]
No strictly track and field combined event featured on the programme, as happened at the 1904 Summer Olympics, but the Greeks introduced a variation of the Ancient Olympic pentathlon. This contained four track and field events – standing long jump, ancient-style discus throw, javelin throw and a stadion race (192 m) – with the final event being Greco-Roman wrestling.[8]
American Martin Sheridan was the initial favourite, having already won gold and silver medals in individual jump and throws events, but dropped out due to injury. Lawson Robertson and István Mudin each won two of the rounds (Robertson the long jump and stadion, Mudin the discus and wrestling), but it was Sweden's Hjalmar Mellander who won the gold medal with 24 points. The Swede never finished in the top two of a round, but he performed consistently, never below seventh place in the 27-man field. Mudin of Hungary took a close second place with 25 points.[8] Third place was taken by another Swede, Eric Lemming, who later went on to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals in the javelin throw.[9]
Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
1906 Athens |
Hjalmar Mellander (SWE) | István Mudin (HUN) | Eric Lemming (SWE) |
Notes[]
References[]
- Participation and athlete data
- Athletics Athletics Men's Pentathlon Medalists. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-05-22.
- Athletics Men's Decathlon Medalists. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-05-22.
- Athletics Men's All-Around Championship Medalists. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-05-22.
- Athletics Women's Pentathlon Medalists. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-05-22.
- Athletics Women's Heptathlon Medalists. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-05-22.
- Olympic record progressions
- Mallon, Bill (2012). TRACK & FIELD ATHLETICS - OLYMPIC RECORD PROGRESSIONS. Track and Field News. Retrieved on 2014-02-07.
- Specific
- ^ Athletics at the 1912 Stockholm Summer Games: Men's Decathlon. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-05-23.
- ^ 12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Berlin 2009 Archived August 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (pages 546, 559–60, 649). IAAF (2009). Retrieved on 2011-05-07.
- ^ Bryan Clay claims decathlon gold, title as world's greatest athlete
- ^ Bryan Clay Wins Olympic Decathlon Gold, World's Greatest Athlete Is an American
- ^ Jim Thorpe. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-05-23.
- ^ Buzz Bissinger (June 1, 2015). "Introducing Caitlyn Jenner". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
- ^ 1906 Athina Summer Games. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-07.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's Pentathlon (Ancient). Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-05-22.
- ^ Eric Lemming. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-05-22.
External links[]
- IAAF heptathlon homepage
- IAAF decathlon homepage
- Official Olympics website
- Olympic athletics records from Track & Field News
- Decathlon at the Olympics
- Heptathlon at the Olympics
- Athletics pentathlon at the Olympics
- Combined track and field events
- Athletics events at the Olympics