Which sports are in the Olympic decathlon?
Your complete guide to the Olympic decathlon including which events are featured in the contest and when you can watch it all live on TV.
The decathlon is among the most fascinating events to watch at any Olympic Games and Tokyo 2020 is no exception.
The multi-event contest begins this week on the track and field and will pit a stable of elite all-round athletes against one another in the ultimate test of various sporting skillsets.
World-record holder Kevin Mayer will be going for gold this time around after picking up silver in the Rio 2016 decathlon. The Frenchman set the new all-time highest score in a men's decathlon at 9,126 in a 2018 event and could be the man to beat.
US star Ashton Eaton won gold five years ago but has since retired from the sport, clearing the path for Mayer to exert his dominance if he can bring his top form to Japan.
Unlike the modern pentathlon and triathlon, the heptathlon and decathlon are both listed under the Olympics athletics schedule due to their track and field nature.
RadioTimes.com brings you up to speed with everything you need to know about decathlon on the Olympic Games 2020 schedule in Tokyo, taking place in the summer of 2021.
- Viewers who are looking to watch each and every sport from the Tokyo Olympics 2020, you can tune in for full coverage via online streaming platform discovery+
How many sports are in Olympic decathlon?
There are 10 events in the Olympic decathlon that take into account an athlete's full range of skills, from vaulting to jumping, from sprinting and hurdling to marginally longer tactical running.
Athletes will, of course, boast favourite events and be uneven across the range of 10 sporting contests, and that's exactly what makes the decathlon so exciting.
What events are in Olympic decathlon?
Traditionally, the same events are conducted in decathlons around the world during each of the two days to avoid burning athletes out with one particular area of focus.
For example, the 100m sprint and 110m hurdles are split across the two days to avoid athletes being forced to sprint and run for several events in the same day.
The full list of events in the Olympic decathlon is as follows:
Day 1
- 100m
- Long jump
- Shot put
- High jump
- 400m
Day 2
- 110m hurdles
- Discus throw
- Pole vault
- Javelin
- 1500m
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When is the Olympic decathlon?
The decathlon begins at 1am (UK time) on Wednesday 4th August 2021 and will wrap up on Thursday 5th August 2021.
We've got the full schedule below:
Wednesday 4th August 2021
- From 1am – 100m
- From 1:55am – Long jump
- From 3:40am – Shot put
- From 10:30am – High jump
- From 1:30pm – 400m
Thursday 5th August 2021
- From 1am – 110m hurdles
- From 1:50am – Discus throw
- From 4:45am – Pole vault
- From 11:15am – Javelin throw
- From 1:40pm – 1500m
Check out our guide for Olympic Games 2020 schedule for more details, timings, and exclusive expert analysis from some of the biggest names in world sport over the coming weeks.
Sir Chris Hoy, Beth Tweddle, Rebecca Adlington, Matthew Pinsent and Dame Jess Ennis-Hill are among the stars we have to being their esteemed opinions, so don't miss what they have to say.
If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news.
Authors
Michael Potts is the Sport Editor for Radio Times, covering all of the biggest sporting events across the globe with previews, features, interviews and more. He has worked for Radio Times since 2019 and previously worked on the sport desk at Express.co.uk after starting his career writing features for What Culture. He achieved a first-class degree in Sports Journalism in 2014.
