Decathlon: 38 years to move from 8000 to 9000 points (0)

In analyzing the Decathlon’s statistics it supplies, in the top 10 of the Decathlon’s World all-time list Erki Nool is the decathlete who manages best performances in more than one event – 400m and Pole Vault – as does Tomaš Dvorak in Shot Put and 110m Hurdles.

In the Top 10 individual events statistics Erki Nool commands top pole in 3 events – Long Jump, 400m and Pole Vault – as does Dan O’Brien in 100m, Long Jump and 110m Hurdles and Bryan Clay in 100m, 110m Hurdles and Discus Throw. If one takes the top 10 individual events in the World all-time list the total score calculates to 9661: where as PBs top 10 scores to 9963 – this against a current individual athletic World record scoring of 12548.

On the basis that athletics took 38 years to move from 8000 (using the 1985 tables Yang Chuan-kwang score is 8010, Walnut 1963) to 9000 points (Roman Šebrle‘s score is 9026, Götzis 2001) it’s going to take generations before we see anywhere near a 9500 all time performer – or will we ever?