decathlon
noun
Did you know?
Decathlon from deca- and athlon, "contest", means "ten contests". The ancient Greek Olympics held five-contest competitions, or pentathlons, that were based on the skills needed in battle. The modern Olympic decathlon, which was born in 1912, consists of the 100-meter run, 400-meter run, 1500-meter run, 110-meter high hurdles, javelin throw, discus throw, shot put, pole vault, high jump, and long jump. The original winner was the legendary Jim Thorpe, who would later be judged the greatest American athlete of the 20th century. And ever since, the Olympic decathlon winner has been called the finest all-around athlete in the world.
Examples of decathlon in a Sentence
Idaho Statesman, 15 June 2026
In the only men's event of the day, BYU’s Ben Barton won the decathlon crown with 8,169 points — just nine more than Louisville’s Kenneth Byrd.
—ABC News, 12 June 2026
Born on July 27, 1954, in Israel, Janklowicz was a one-time Olympic hopeful in the decathlon, and dedicated his early years to track and field before serving as a fitness instructor in the Israel Defense Forces.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 June 2026
Aguilar won two conference decathlon titles (2022 and 2023) and set the program record with 7,470 points.
—Brian Robin, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Decathlon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decathlon. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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decathlon
noun
