Kevin Mayer (9126 Points) Breaks Ashton Eaton’s World Record in the Decathlon at Décastar Meet in France

By Jonathan Gault
September 16, 2018

Just seven hours after Eliud Kipchoge ran the greatest marathon of all time, clocking 2:01:39 to break the world record in Berlin, France’s Kevin Mayer concluded the greatest decathlon of all time, scoring 9126 points at the Décastar meet in Talence, France. Entering the final event, the 1500 meters, Mayer needed to run 4:49 or faster to take down Eaton’s record of 9045 points set at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, and the 26-year-old Frenchman did it with ease, running 4:36.11.

Mayer’s complete set of marks were as follows — incredibly, he scored exactly the same number of points (4563) on each day:

Day 1 (4563 points)
100 meters: 10.55 (PR)
Long jump: 7.80 meters (PR)
Shot put: 16.00 meters
High jump: 2.05 meters
400 meters: 48.42

Day 2 (4563 points)
110-meter hurdles: 13.75
Discus: 50.54 meters
Pole vault: 5.45 meters
Javelin: 71.90 meters (PR)
1500 meters: 4:36.11

Mayer, the reigning world champion who took silver behind Eaton at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, joins Eaton and the Czech Republic’s Roman Sebrle as the only men to eclipse the 9,000-point barrier. He joins American Dan O’Brien as the second man to set the world record in Talence. O’Brien scored 8891 back in 1992 — the same year Mayer was born.

Interestingly, both O’Brien and Mayer made the decision to compete in Talence after heartbreak earlier in the season. In 1992, O’Brien, the star of Reebok’s infamous Dan & Dave ad campaign, failed to qualify for the Olympics after no-heighting in the pole vault at the Olympic Trials in New Orleans in June. Mayer dropped out of last month’s European Championships after failing to record a mark in the long jump.

Per crack statistician Jon Mulkeen, it’s the first time there have been two world records in Olympic events on the same day since August 11, 2012.

Two outdoor WRs by 2 different people/teams in 1 day:
– Men's 4x100m and women's 20km race walk at 2012 Olympics

Two WRs by 2 different people/teams at 2 different comps:
– Mary Keitany at RAK Half and Russia's 4x800m world indoor record on 18 Feb 2011

(2/2)

— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) September 15, 2018

Comparison of Mayer and Eaton’s marks:

Mayer had the best mark or tied for the best mark in every event of his decathlon except for the 400 (2nd best) and 1500 (CDB= Championship decathlon best. WDB= World decathlon best

Discuss Mayer’s feat on our messageboard:
MB: Might the men’s marathon and decathlon records fall on the day? How scared should Ashton Eaton be that his WR falls today?