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The decathlon is the ultimate test of an athlete’s versatility, endurance, and skill. It comprises ten grueling events, ranging from sprints to jumps to throws. Only the toughest and most all-rounded athletes can excel in this multi-disciplinary competition. Decathlon is a true test of physical and mental fortitude, and a celebration of the human spirit’s indomitable nature. There are ten separate events in it: the 100-meter dash, the long jump, the shot put, the high jump, the 400-meter dash, the 110-meter hurdles, the discus throw, the pole vault, the javelin throw, and the 1500-meter dash. These athletes must be exceptional in a variety of skills, such as strength, speed, agility, and endurance. Only a select few athletes have been able to surpass the greatest decathletes in history, despite numerous attempts. The top 10 decathletes of all time are listed below:
Top 10 Decathlete in the World of All-Time
| S.No | Name of Decathlete | Country |
| 1. | Daley Thompson | United Kingdom |
| 2. | Ashton Eaton | United States |
| 3. | Roman Sebrle | Czech Republic |
| 4. | Dan O’Brien | United States |
| 5. | Bill Toomey | United States |
| 6. | Bob Mathias | United States |
| 7. | Tomas Dvorak | Czech Republic |
| 8. | Kevin Mayer | France |
| 9. | Roman Gotfryd | Poland |
| 10. | Milt Campbell | United States |
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Daley Thompson
Former British decathlete, Daley Thompson is regarded as one of the best decathletes of all time. He received many honors throughout his career, including four European Championship titles, three World Championship titles, and two Olympic gold medals. His first decathlon world record came in 1978, and his last record-setting performance was at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where he scored 8,847 points. Thompson is still regarded as a legend in the athletics community because of his explosive speed and strength, especially in the throwing events.
Ashton Eaton
The greatest athlete in the history of the decathlon is commonly acknowledged to be retired American Ashton Eaton. He became the first athlete to successfully defend the title since Daley Thompson in 1984 when he won back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the decathlon at the Olympic Games in 2012 and 2016. In addition to his Olympic victory, Eaton also won two gold medals at the World Championships in the decathlon and established the record there with 9,045 points in 2015. Eaton’s supremacy in the decathlon was highlighted by his reliability as well as his extraordinary athleticism and versatility.
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Roman Sebrle
Roman Sebrle, a retired decathlete from the Czech Republic, won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He established the decathlon world record in 2001 with a total of 9026 points, which remained unbroken until Ashton Eaton did it in 2015. Sebrle excelled in the heptathlon, a seven-event version of the decathlon, winning many gold medals at both the European Championships and the World Indoor Championships. He was well-known for his prowess in the throwing disciplines, breaking his own records while setting the world record in the shot put and the discus throw.
Dan O’Brien
The American decathlete Dan O’Brien had a very successful career. From 1991 to 1995, he won three straight gold medals at the World Athletics Championships, and in 1992, he set the record with an 8,891-point performance. A no-height in the pole vault, unfortunately, hindered O’Brien’s performance at the 1992 Olympics, however he improved and won the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. As one of the greatest decathletes of all time, he also won the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships eight times and the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships six times.
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Bill Toomey
American decathlete Bill Toomey took home the gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. In 1969, he established an 8,417-point world record that stood for almost two years. During his world record performance, Toomey set personal bests in several of the ten events and was renowned for his adaptability and consistent performance across all of them. In addition, he won the AAU decathlon title in 1964, 1965, and 1969. Toomey was elected into the American Olympic Hall of Fame in 1984 and is regarded as one of the finest decathletes of all time.
Bob Mathias
In the decathlon, American Bob Mathias won back-to-back gold medals at the Olympics in 1948 and 1952. He was only 17 when he earned his first gold, making him the youngest Olympian to win gold in track and field. Mathias was renowned for his lightning speed and his ability to compete successfully in each of the ten competitions.
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Tomas Dvorak
At the 1997 World Championships, Tomas Dvorak of the Czech Republic won the gold medal. At the 2000 Olympic Games, he won the silver. In the indoor heptathlon, another multi-event discipline, he also owns the world record. Dvorak was renowned for his outstanding throwing performances and his reliability in all 10 disciplines.
Kevin Mayer
Both the gold medal at the 2017 World Championships and the silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games were won by Frenchman Kevin Mayer. With a total of 9,126 points, he also owns the decathlon world record. Mayer has a reputation for having remarkable speed and for being versatile, excelling in both field events and running.
Roman Gotfryd
Polish athlete Roman Gotfryd won the silver medal and the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in 1976 and 1980, respectively. In fact, his 8,381-point performance in 1976 established a global record. Gotfryd was known for his strength in the throwing events and his consistency across all ten events.
Milt Campbell
At the Olympic Games in 1952 and 1956, American Milt Campbell won the silver and gold medals, respectively. He also made Olympic history by becoming the first African American to win the decathlon. Campbell was renowned for his incredible athleticism and capacity to excel in each of the ten disciplines.
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