TO THE LIMIT

The men’s decathlon — featuring the 100-metre dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400-metre run, 110-metre hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500-metre run — is seen as the contest for the best all-around male athlete on the planet. Women compete in the eight-event heptathlon, which drops pole vault and discus and includes 100-metre hurdles and 200- and 800-metre runs.