decathlon
noun
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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
Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2024
Jenner, 74, who won the men's decathlon at the 1976 Olympics, came out as a transgender woman in 2015 and has been a vocal critic of trans women competing in women’s sports since 2021.
—Natalie Kainz, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2024
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“Decathlon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decathlon. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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decathlon
noun
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