The Hingsen Combination: A Challenge! (15)

Chris Vlamynck and Janek Salmistu for Decathlon 2000
May 06, 2011

Is a decathlete a real athlete? Commentators, world records, decathlon and prejudice!
Part II The Hingsen Combination: A challenge!

Yes, in terms of body constitution the examples where extreme[1]. But the point is that decathletes do both and with more than reasonable results, so give decathletes or the women and men that take part in multi events in general, the recognition they deserve. True! Shot putters, other throwers and long distance runners are not to be underestimated. Okay, you have them in different statures but they are real very hard working athletes just as participants of combined events are. Approaching decathlon events from the point of view of three groups of actions – throwing jumping and running - the throwing has not a decathlete as world record holder (as distinct from running and jumping). The best personal records (total) is from Mac Wilkins. To compare the world record with old* and new javelin with that of “Multiple Mac”:

Name		Pb total	SP	DT	JT
Mac	Wilkins	3501	21,06	70,98	78,44
Raimo	Pihl	2857	16,04	47,95	88,52	*
Mike	Smith	2816	18,03	52,90	71,22

But, how about a challenge for those underestimating decathlon? The records in decathlon are so easy that real athletes can (with no trouble) do better in more than one discipline they say? If decathlon records are so easy to improve, how about trying to improve the world record of only one combination in the multi event! We talk about one combination of only two events and you got two days to try! Let us call it “The Hingsen Combination”! The world record holder is Jürgen Hingsen and he holds the record since 1982.

Performances by Jürgen Hingsen				Points	Points
Points "HC"	Shot Put		1500 m	SP	1500 m	Year	Decathlon
1696	16,00	4	15,13	851	845	1982	8741
1690	16,42	4	19,75	877	813	1984	8832
1681	16,46	4	21,61	880	801	1986	8730
1661	15,94	4	19,74	848	813	1983	8825
1658	15,06	4	12,29	793	865	1979	8218
1657	16,57	4	25,94	886	771	1986	8485
1637	15,87	4	22,6	843	794	1984	8695
1635	15,06	4	15,56	793	842	1980	8409
1633	15,95	4	23,87	848	785	1982	8541
1631	15,66	4	21,59	830	801	1983	8599
HC: Hingsen Combination means the sum or total score from Shot Put and 1500 m in two days

In two days he collected 1696 points for the combination shot Put and running the 1500 meters doing respectively 16.00 meters and 4 minutes 15.13sec. (Meanwhile the man did a decathlon world record of 8741 points!) To improve this Hingsen combination world record by one point, here’s an idée of the performance you need if you equal the world record in one event: If you throw 23 meters 12 (WR) in the shot put (trying only three times, not six) you need a time of 5 minutes 29.56 seconds or better to make a score of 1697 points (1295+402). For the long distance runner we have the following submissions: 3 minutes 26.00 seconds (WR) combined with a shot put of 9 meters 89 (1218+479). In our opinion if the record will be broken it will take a decathlete to improve this record and I think no elite shot putter nor specialist 1500 meters runner will ever be able to break the record (let alone another specialist). To make it to the top ten will not be easy either. Here’s a list with best performances for the combination of the most dissimilar or various events in decathlon (+ 8000 points).[2]

Position/Name	Points comb.	Shot Put	1500 m	Year	Decathlon
1 Jürgen Hingsen	1696	16.00	4 15.13	1982	8741
2 Christian Schenk	1681	15.59	4 13.77	1990	8433
3 Valter Külvet	1678	15.78	4 15.93	1988	8506
4 Bruce Jenner	1674	15.35	4 12.61	1976	8634
5 Yuri Kutsenko	1673	15.22	4 11.61	1981	8281
6 Antonio Penalver	1670	17.32	4 31.21	1991	8306
7 Grigori Degtyaryov	1668	16.14	4 20.49	1984	8617
8 Oleksandr Apaichev	1666	15.91	4 18.78	1984	8592
9 Steffen Grummt	1665	16.81	4 27.04	1984	8172
10 Norbert Demmel	1665	16.60	4 25.07	1989	8059

[1] For women Decathlon possible extremes in difference of body constitution (to compare with women decathletes) are Valerie Vili – Adams (NZL) length/weight: 1m96/120 kg (21m07 in the shot put) and Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR) 1m59/40 kg (3m 58.28sec in 1500)

[2] Russel Hodge has a life time best total (WR) of 1872 points (SP: 18.56/1500: 4 12.7).

Next time: Part III Comparing records – more remarks

Comments (15)

Dale Harder wrote on May 07, 2011

I like this idea. How about a whole bunch of two event two-day records. How about the SP-100m? or SP-HJ?
I also would like to see three event records. How about the SP-HJ-100? Or maybe the best measure of an athlete in only three events where you need one throw, one race and one jump/vault? I like the SP-PV-100 for sheer athleticism. Maybe we could start a series of meets with just 3 events: Another very interesting combo would be JT-HJ-400.