These are the official results of the men's decathlon competition at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. There were a total number of 26 participating athletes, with the competition starting on August 8, 1984, and ending on August 9, 1984.[1]
Earlier in 1984 the IAAF had updated its decathlon scoring tables; the tables set in 1962 (with effect from 1964) would be replaced on 1 April 1985.[2] The world record performance at the changeover date would be recalculated using the new tables and become the new world record.[2] In the event that another performance had a lower total on the 1962 tables but a higher one on the 1984 tables, it would not supersede the pre-existing record.[2]
These were the standing world and Olympic records (in points) prior to the 1984 Summer Olympics:
Daley Thompson's time in the Olympic 110mH was initially recorded as 14.34, on which basis he started the final 1500m needing 4:34.8 to beat Hingsen's world record, or 4:34.9 to equal it.[3] After slowing at the end to enjoy his triumph, he finished in 4:35.0, giving a points total of 8797, one below the world record (still a new Olympic record).[3] The time was over 14 seconds outside his personal best.[4] Under the 1984 tables (taking effect in 1985) Thompson's 8797 scored 8846, whereas Hingsen's 8798 was only 8832.[2] Nevertheless, Hingsen retained the record under the IAAF's grandfather rule.[2]
In 1986, the IAAF re-examined the photo finish of Thompson's Olympic 110mH, found it was one-thousandth of a second faster than initially thought, and rounded his time down from 14.34 to 14.33.[2][5] This gave him one extra point, thereby retrospectively equalling Hingsen's 8798 under the 1962 tables, and scoring 8847 on the 1984 tables.[2] The IAAF ruled on 15 July 1986 that Thompson was co-holder of the world record from 9 August 1984 until 1 April 1985, and sole holder thereafter.[2]
Results
The highest mark recorded in each event is highlighted in yellow. These marks were split between six competitors with the gold medallist claiming three of them.
^Jenner's 1976 performance was officially calculated as 8618 using a 400m time of 50.0.[2] From 1977, the IAAF required 400m times accurate to 100th of a second; Jenner's 50.04 was worth one point less. Both figures have been quoted subsequently.[2]
