Decathlon
/dɛˈkæθ.lɒn/noun
A track and field event consisting of ten different athletic disciplines.
Did you know?The decathlon's roots trace back to ancient Greece, where athletes competed in multi-event contests to prove their physical prowess, a practice steeped in competition and glory.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
δέκαθλον
“A competition of ten events.”
19th Century
French
décathlon
“A modern term coined to describe a new multi-event athletic competition.”
20th Century
English
decathlon
“Adopted into English to denote the standardized athletic event consisting of ten disciplines.”
20th Century
English
decathlon
“Officially recognized in the Olympic Games as a major competition.”