decathlete
Track and field all-rounder
A decathlete is an athlete who competes in the decathlon, a grueling two-day track and field competition comprising ten events: sprints, hurdles, jumps, throws, and a distance race.
The word emphasizes versatility over specialization—decathletes must be competent across radically different disciplines.
She trained as a decathlete throughout college.
Seven-sport athletic competition
- pentathlonFive-event athletic competition
- stadiumLarge venue for spectators
- meetCome into contact
- championshipsTitle-deciding competitions
world record · nationals · heat · trials · all-around
Track sprint distance
- shotputThrowing a weighted ball
- 400mOne track circuit
- discusHeavy disc for throwing
- javelinThrowing spear for sport
1500m · sprinting · throwing · jumping · hurdling · scoring · personal best · split times
Capacity for sustained effort
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- toughnessResilient durability under strain
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
determination · perseverance · conditioning · training · recovery · mental toughness · pacing · fatigue
Multi-skilled person
- multitalentedHaving diverse abilities
- adaptableAble to adjust readily
- cross-trainedTaught additional job functions
- well-roundedDeveloped in many areas
speed · strength · technique · coordination · athleticism · balance · power · agility
heptathlon
Seven-sport athletic competition
- pentathlonFive-event athletic competition
- stadiumLarge venue for spectators
- meetCome into contact
championships · world record · nationals · heat · trials · all-around
100m
Track sprint distance
javelin · 1500m · sprinting · throwing · jumping · hurdling · scoring · personal best · split times · day one
stamina
Capacity for sustained effort
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- toughnessResilient durability under strain
grit · determination · perseverance · conditioning · training · recovery · mental toughness · pacing · fatigue · second wind
all-rounder
Multi-skilled person
- multitalentedHaving diverse abilities
- adaptableAble to adjust readily
- cross-trainedTaught additional job functions
well-rounded · speed · strength · technique · coordination · athleticism · balance · power · agility
Jim Thorpe
gold
Element seventy-nine
podium · Tokyo · Beijing · London · Rio · Athens · Barcelona · Seoul · Los Angeles · Moscow
- athletesOlympian, champion, swimmers, runner, swimmer
- Olympic athletesgold medalist, silver medalist, bronze medalist, Olympic medalist, gymnast
- field athletesshot putter, discus thrower, javelin thrower, hammer thrower, high jumper
- multisporttriathlon, heptathlete, pentathlon, heptathlon, biathlon
- generalistsgeneralist, all-rounder, jack of all trades, jack-of-all-trades, polymath
- Multi-Sport AthletesBo Jackson, Deion Sanders, Jim Thorpe, Jackie Robinson, triathlete
decathletespecialist
Expert in one field
sprinter · shot putter · high jumper · javelin thrower · pole vaulter