I don't really follow the event because it's confusing as to how it's scored. I just check out the individual performances, but I don't really put them in context.
But, is the multievent athlete the best most complete all around athlete in the house, or are they a jack of all trades, master of none?
The latter, as in the could not compete internationally in any one of the events by itself but still impressive to be a jack-of-all-trades when these are the trades in question.
It is the triathletes who on occasion can still claim to be world-class in a given single discipline
i respect it, but its hard to stay engaged (ZZZZZ)...and the decathlon1500 is be far the ugliest spectacle in the sport.
how would Warner have done in the long jump? other events? Look at him, h's as athletic as any other athlete.
It just seems like you could take a 400 or 800 runner and turn them into a multievent athlete.
For the guys the pole vault would seem to be the big make or break event. I could see someone being able to do everything reasonably well but that.
Not sure for the woman maybe the throws?
It's a novelty act.
Calling someone who does 10 events at the level of a really good American high schooler the "World's Greatest Athlete" seems kind of silly.
SummerSlogger wrote:
I don't really follow the event because it's confusing as to how it's scored. I just check out the individual performances, but I don't really put them in context.
But, is the multievent athlete the best most complete all around athlete in the house, or are they a jack of all trades, master of none?
It doesn't get promoted enough. Most non-track fans don't understand how it works. They just see them performing in between individual event finals. It basically just looks like heats of another race every time. They need to find a way to highlight all the events for the athletes in a way that is easy to digest for the viewer. They don't show the point totals enough, as they should be dissecting what each individual needs to move up a place or two.
Imagine if you had somebody explaining at the beginning of each multi event what place everyone is and what mark it would take for an athlete to move up into medal contention. They do a decent job of it in the 1500/800 but not much otherwise. It's just hard when an event is so spread out to cover it all, however they do manage to discuss heats for individual events during the process so why not?
It's the most original event in track. It defines the world's best athlete. It should be the greatest event.
Deadstream wrote:
It's a novelty act.
Calling someone who does 10 events at the level of a really good American high schooler the "World's Greatest Athlete" seems kind of silly.
Considering an American high schooler was 4th in the 200 this year, I'd say that's pretty awesome and I'd love to see it.
To be fair, Warner's jump in the decathlon would have earned him the bronze medal at these Olympics...
coach wrote:
how would Warner have done in the long jump? other events? Look at him, h's as athletic as any other athlete.
To be fair, Warner's jump in the decathlon would have earned him the bronze medal at these Olympics...
Best athlete is always an interesting discussion. Until there’s a better way to quantify athleticism I’m sticking with decathletes as being the best all-around athletes.
SummerSlogger wrote:
It just seems like you could take a 400 or 800 runner and turn them into a multievent athlete.
For the guys the pole vault would seem to be the big make or break event. I could see someone being able to do everything reasonably well but that.
Not sure for the woman maybe the throws?
No. A high school 110mH & pole vault athlete can be turned into a 10 sport athlete. Not just any good 400m & 800m athlete can 110mH.
ntreich wrote:
To be fair, Warner's jump in the decathlon would have earned him the bronze medal at these Olympics...
A 10:12 100m is also pretty darn good
Tron wrote:
ntreich wrote:
To be fair, Warner's jump in the decathlon would have earned him the bronze medal at these Olympics...
A 10:12 100m is also pretty darn good
An 18' PV is also pretty impressive for a "jack of all trades."
ntreich wrote:
coach wrote:
how would Warner have done in the long jump? other events? Look at him, h's as athletic as any other athlete.
To be fair, Warner's jump in the decathlon would have earned him the bronze medal at these Olympics...
Exactly, they aren't necessarily jack of all trades, they are incredible UNDERRATED athletes
It needs a better and mOre comprehensible scoring system.
Something like that us
SummerSlogger wrote:
I don't really follow the event because it's confusing as to how it's scored. I just check out the individual performances, but I don't really put them in context.
But, is the multievent athlete the best most complete all around athlete in the house, or are they a jack of all trades, master of none?
I find it boring to watch but the results are interesting.
Jack of all trades and being the best athlete in the house can be the same thing. Only a naturally gifted athlete can be good at so many events requiring different skills.
It's not just about what events they can do, it's also about physical and mental toughness. They're not out in the heat for 10 minutes, they're out there for hours on back to back days. And then you have the very real possibility that any of the events can ding you up during the competition and you have to fight through that.
Very, very tough event.
I do find it a little difficult to call someone the world's greatest athlete if they would get smoked by a halfway decent high school kid in the 1500, though they're generally pretty impressive in the rest. I suspect plenty of more specialized athletes could win this easily if they wanted to.
Back in the day, Decathlon was huge. Jenner became a huge celebrity after winning gold in 1976. Everyone in the US was watching the decathlon that year and Jenner's lap with the American flag started a tradition for winning athletes that stands today.
The event really faded in popularity as the US failed to be competitive in the event after Jenner retired until the Dan and Dave years. But by then, the East v. West rivalry of the Soviet Block v. NATO aligned countries had fizzled after the fall of the Soviet Union and reunification of Germany. So, when Dan won gold, it really wasn't a big deal. Sadly, when Ashton Eaton came along, the event was pretty much at a low point in popularity even though Eaton was a total beast and amazing to watch.
I do agree that the decathlon is hard to watch when you are seeing it side by side with the individual events. Any decathlete who is competitive with an individual hurdler, sprinter, etc. will just blow away the other competitors. And when there is a competitive heat, it still is a bit of a sh#t show compared to the individual event.