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An athletic contest made up of 10 sporting disciplines, which takes place over two days and features 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m hurdles, discus. pole vault, javelin, 1500m. Points are awarded depending on time/height/distance.
Popularity
Due to the physically challenging nature of the event and the need to be competent in such a wide variety of events, the popularity of this sport is not high. Competitors have to be determined and try to remain injury free. Most opt to specialise
Location
Find your local athletics club through the UK Athletics Association. They will be able to put you in touch with a local club that caters for your chosen sport. There is a list of 1400 clubs throughout the UK, you are sure to find one nearby.
Age
Starting age can be from school upwards. You will need to be interested in running, jumping and throwing. The throwing events may not be totally suitable for young children and need to be supervised by responsible adults at all times.
Ability
If you are able to run, have an aptitude for jumping and can throw a bit, then this is the event for you. You may find that you are much stronger in some events than others, but given a lot of practice, you can soon raise your standard.
Description
If starting from an early age, you get to do lots of sports which can only be good. Keen runners will appreciate the track events which are sprints and over longer distances and include hurdling as well. The jumping events are always popular with youngsters and so keen competitors may well progress to consider the decathlon. The throwing events require a high degree of skill and coordination. Decathletes may also find they can compete in specialised events based on one of the decathlon events.
Dedication
A high degree of physical discipline and mental toughness are required to be a successful decathlete. Obviously, a high level of physical fitness is required to be able to compete in ten events over two days. Many decathletes will experience periods where they find they cannot compete due to injury. Training schedules will be tough and the time required to undertake the training could well result in many hours per week, but the rewards could well be very significant for all the hard effort.
Potential
For the dedicated athlete the potential is to go for local championships, National championships, European, Commonwealth and world championships, plus the Olympic games. This means the potential to collect cups and cherished gold medals.
Closely
Related Activities
Athletics 32, Discus 27, High Jump 30, Javelin 31, Long Jump 33, Pole Vault 36, Shot Put 37, Track Running (middle distance & sprint) 41, Hurdles 45, Decathlon 44, Heptahlon 29.
Cost
Running shoes, kit, travel
Level of Demand
The table below shows the maximum levels of demand that this activity requires. NOTE: These are not entry levels or levels of requirement and has nothing to do with ability.
 Energy |
| Arms
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| Legs
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| Sight
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| Hearing
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| Speech |
| Learning |
Please be advised that this record has not necessarily been reviewed by people with the expertise required to provide you with complete, accurate or reliable information. The information and images for this activity are supplied by the general public, Please contact us if there is a breach of copyright or you wish to improve the data.
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