Heptathlon
Track and field competition with 7 events
A heptathlon is a track and field combined events contest made up of seven events.[ 1] The name derives from the Greek ἑπτά (hepta, meaning "seven") and ἄθλος (áthlos, or ἄθλον, áthlon, meaning "competition"). A competitor in a heptathlon is referred to as a heptathlete.
There are two heptathlons – the men's and the women's heptathlon – composed of different events. The men's heptathlon is older and is currently held indoors, contested at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics . The women's heptathlon is held outdoors and was introduced in the 1980s, first appearing in the Olympics in 1984 . It is currently contested in the athletics programme of the Olympics and at the World Athletics Championships .
Women's heptathlon
Women's heptathlon is the combined event for women contested in the athletics programme of the Olympics and at the World Athletics Championships . The World Athletics Combined Events Tour determines a yearly women's heptathlon champion. The women's outdoor heptathlon consists of the following events, with the first four contested on the first day, and the remaining three on day two:
The heptathlon has been contested by female athletes since the early 1980s, when it replaced the pentathlon as the primary women's combined event contest (the javelin throw and 800 m were added).[ 2] It was first contested at the Olympic level in the 1984 Summer Olympics . In recent years some women's decathlon competitions have been conducted, consisting of the same events as the men's competition in a slightly different order, and World Athletics has begun keeping records for it, but the heptathlon remains the championship-level combined event for women. Nafissatou Thiam , representing Belgium, is the 2024 Olympic Gold Medallist , after successfully defending her previous 2016 and 2020 titles. She is also the reigning European Champion . Katarina Johnson-Thompson , representing Great Britain, is the current World Champion and Commonwealth Champion . Odile Ahouanwanou . Yekaterina Voronina , Kiara Reddingius , Luisarys Toledo and Ariana Ince hold the African, Asian, Oceanian, South American and NACAC (North American, Central American and Caribbean) titles respectively. Adriana Rodríguez , Marthe Koala , Swapna Barman and Elenani Tinai hold the Panamerican Games, African Games, Asian Games and Pacific Games titles respectively.[ 3]
There is also a Tetradecathlon , which is a double heptathlon, consisting of 14 events, seven events per day.
Points system
The heptathlon scoring system was devised by Dr Karl Ulbrich, a Viennese mathematician. The formulae are constructed so that, for each event, a designated benchmark performance (for example, approximately 1.82 m for the high jump) scores 1000 points.[ 4] Each event also has a minimum recordable performance level (e.g. 0.75 m for the high jump), corresponding to zero points. The formulae are devised so that successive constant increments in performance correspond to gradually increasing increments in points awarded.
The events are split into three groups, and the scores are calculated according to the three formulae:[ 5]
Running events (200 m, 800 m and 100 m hurdles):
P
=
I
N
T
(
a
⋅ ⋅ -->
(
b
− − -->
T
)
c
{\displaystyle P=INT(a\cdot (b-T)^{c}}
)
Jumping events (high jump and long jump):
P
=
I
N
T
(
a
⋅ ⋅ -->
(
M
− − -->
b
)
c
{\displaystyle P=INT(a\cdot (M-b)^{c}}
)
Throwing events (shot put and javelin):
P
=
I
N
T
(
a
⋅ ⋅ -->
(
D
− − -->
b
)
c
{\displaystyle P=INT(a\cdot (D-b)^{c}}
)
P is for points, T is for time in seconds, M is for height or distance in centimeters and D is distance in meters. a , b and c have different values for each of the events, as follows:
Event
a
b
c
200 metres
4.99087
42.5
1.81
800 metres
0.11193
254
1.88
100 metres hurdles
9.23076
26.7
1.835
High jump
1.84523
75
1.348
Long jump
0.188807
210
1.41
Shot put
56.0211
1.5
1.05
Javelin throw
15.9803
3.8
1.04
Benchmarks
The following table shows the benchmark levels needed to earn 1000, 900, 800 and 700 points in each event.
Event
1,000 pts
900 pts
800 pts
700 pts
Unit
100 m hurdles
13.85
14.56
15.32
16.12
Seconds
High jump
1.82
1.74
1.66
1.57
Metres
Shot put
17.07
15.58
14.09
12.58
Metres
200 m
23.80
24.86
25.97
27.14
Seconds
Long jump
6.48
6.17
5.84
5.50
Metres
Javelin throw
57.18
52.04
46.87
41.68
Metres
800 m
2:07.63
2:14.52
2:21.77
2:29.47
Minutes:Seconds
Women's world records compared with heptathlon bests
Men's heptathlon
The other version is an indoor competition, normally contested by men only. It is the men's combined event in the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics . The men's indoor heptathlon consists of the following events, with the first four contested on the first day, and remaining three on day two:
The scoring is similar for both versions. In each event, the athlete scores points for his performance in each event according to scoring tables issued by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).[ 10] The athlete accumulating the highest number of points wins the competition.
Benchmarks
The following table shows the minimum benchmark levels required to earn 1000 points in each event.
Event
1000pts
Units
60 m
6.68
Seconds
Long jump
7.76
Metres
Shot put
18.40
Metres
High jump
2.21
Metres
60 m hurdles
7.69
Seconds
Pole vault
5.29
Metres
1000 m
2:29.00
Minutes:Seconds
Men's world records compared with heptathlon bests
All-time top 25
Women
Rank
Score
Athlete
Date
Place
Ref.
1
7291
Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA )
23–24 September 1988
Seoul
( 12.69/+0.8 - 1.86 - 15.80 - 22.56/+1.6 / 7.27/+0.7 - 45.66 - 2:08.51 )
2
7032
Carolina Klüft (SWE )
25–26 August 2007
Osaka
( 13.15/+0.1 - 1.95 - 14.81 - 23.38/+0.3 / 6.85/+1.0 - 47.98 - 2:12.56 )
3
7013
Nafissatou Thiam (BEL )
27–28 May 2017
Götzis
[ 14]
( 13.34/-0.7 - 1.98 - 14.51 - 24.40/-1.6 / 6.56/+0.8 - 59.32 - 2:15.24 )
4
7007
Larisa Nikitina (URS )
10–11 June 1989
Bryansk
( 13.40/+1.4 - 1.89 - 16.45 - 23.97/+1.1 / 6.73/+4.0 - 53.94 - 2:15.31 )
5
6988
Anna Hall (USA )
27–28 May 2023
Götzis
[ 15]
( 12.75/+0.7 - 1.92 - 13.90 - 22.88/+0.1 / 6.54/+1.2 - 43.08 - 2:02.97 )
6
6985
Sabine Braun (GER )
30–31 May 1992
Götzis
( 13.11/-0.4 - 1.93 - 14.84 - 23.65/+2.0 / 6.63/+2.9 - 51.62 - 2:12.67 )
7
6981
Katarina Johnson-Thompson (GBR )
2–4 October 2019
Doha
[ 16]
( 13.09/+0.6 - 1.95 - 13.86 - 23.08/+1.0 / 6.77/+0.2 - 43.93 - 2:07.26 )
8
6955
Jessica Ennis (GBR )
3–4 August 2012
London
( 12.54/+1.3 - 1.86 - 14.28 - 22.83/-0.3 / 6.48/-0.6 - 47.49 - 2:08.65 )
9
6946
Sabine Paetz (GDR )
5–6 May 1984
Potsdam
( 12.64/+0.3 - 1.80 - 15.37 - 23.37/+0.7 / 6.86/-0.2 - 44.62 - 2:08.93 )
10
6942
Ghada Shouaa (SYR )
25–26 May 1996
Götzis
( 13.78/+0.3 - 1.87 - 15.64 - 23.78/+0.6 / 6.77/+0.6 - 54.74 - 2:13.61 )
11
6935
Ramona Neubert (GDR )
18–19 June 1983
Moscow
( 13.42/+1.8 - 1.82 - 15.25 - 23.49/+0.5 / 6.79/+0.7 - 49.94 - 2:07.51 )
12
6889
Eunice Barber (FRA )
4–5 June 2005
Arles
( 12.62/+2.9 - 1.91 - 12.61 - 24.12/+1.2 / 6.78/+3.4 - 53.07 - 2:14.66 )
13
6867
Anouk Vetter (NED )
17–18 July 2022
Eugene
[ 17]
( 13.30/+0.7 - 1.80 - 16.25 - 23.73/+1.4 / 6.52/+0.3 - 58.29 - 2:20.09 )
14
6859
Natalya Shubenkova (URS )
20–21 June 1984
Kyiv
( 12.93/+1.0 - 1.83 - 13.66 - 23.57/-0.3 / 6.73/+0.4 - 46.26 - 2:04.60 )
15
6858
Anke Behmer (GDR )
23–24 September 1988
Seoul
( 13.20/+0.8 - 1.83 - 14.20 - 23.10/+1.6 / 6.68/ - 44.54 - 2:04.20 )
16
6847
Irina Belova (RUS )
1–2 August 1992
Barcelona
( 13.25/ - 1.88 - 13.77 - 23.34/ / 6.82/ - 41.90 - 2:05.08 )
17
6836
Carolin Schäfer (GER )
27–28 May 2017
Götzis
[ 14]
( 13.09/+1.0 - 1.86 - 14.76 - 23.36/+0.7 / 6.57/+0.9 - 49.80 - 2:14.73 )
18
6832
Lyudmila Blonska (UKR )
25–26 August 2007
Osaka
( 13.25/+0.1 - 1.92 - 14.44 - 24.09/+0.3 / 6.88/+1.0 - 47.77 - 2:16.68 )
19
6831
Denise Lewis (GBR )
29–30 July 2000
Götzis
( 13.13/+1.0 - 1.84 - 15.07 - 24.01/+3.6 / 6.69/-0.4 - 49.42 - 2:12.20 )
20
6815
Laura Ikauniece-Admidiņa (LAT )
27–28 May 2017
Götzis
[ 14]
( 13.10/+1.0 - 1.77 - 13.53 - 23.49/-2.9 / 6.64/+0.8 - 56.17 - 2:11.76 )
21
6808
Brianne Theisen-Eaton (CAN )
30–31 May 2015
Götzis
( 13.05/-0.2 - 1.89 - 13.73 - 23.34/+1.4 / 6.72/+0.9 - 42.96 - 2:09.37 )
22
6803
Jane Frederick (USA )
15–16 September 1984
Talence
( 13.27/+1.2 - 1.87 - 15.49 - 24.15/+1.6 / 6.43/+0.2 - 51.74 - 2:13.55 )
23
6778
Nataliya Dobrynska (UKR )
30–31 July 2010
Barcelona
( 13.59/-1.6 - 1.86 - 15.88 - 24.23/-0.2 / 6.56/+0.3 - 49.25 - 2:12.06 )
24
6765
Yelena Prokhorova (RUS )
22–23 July 2000
Tula
( 13.54/-2.8 - 1.82 - 14.30 - 23.37/-0.2 / 6.72/+1.0 - 43.40 - 2:04.27 )
25
6742
Yorgelis Rodriguez (CUB )
26–27 May 2018
Götzis
[ 18]
( 13.48/+0.3 - 1.86 - 14.95 - 23.96/-0.6 / 6.58/+2.3 - 48.65 - 2:12.73 )
Notes
Below is a list of all other scores equal or superior to 6875 pts:
Jackie Joyner-Kersee also scored 7215 (1988), 7158 (1986), 7148 (1986), 7128 (1987), 7044 (1992), 6979 (1987), 6910 (1986), 6878 (1991).
Carolina Klüft also scored 7001 (2003), 6952 (2004), 6887 (2005).
Nafissatou Thiam also scored 6947 (2022), 6880 (2024).
Jessica Ennis also scored 6906 (2012).
Sabine Paetz also scored 6897 (1988).
Larisa Nikitina also scored 6875 (1989).
Annulled marks
Tatyana Chernova scored 6880 (2011), this performance was annulled due to doping offences.
Men
World record holder Ashton Eaton competing at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships
Notes
Below is a list of all other scores equal or superior to 6303 pts:
Medalists
Women's Olympic medalists
Women's World Championships medalists
Medal table
Men's World Indoor Championships medalists
Season's bests
Women's heptathlon
The world record as of 18/07/2024 is highlighed in yellow.
Men's indoor heptathlon
National records
Women's heptathlon
Equal or superior to 6200 pts:
Men's indoor heptathlon
Equal or superior to 6000 pts:
Men's heptathlon under-20 records
Key:
Unratified by World Athletics
✕ = Inadequate doping control
Event
Record
N
Athlete
Nationality
Date
Meet
Place
Age
Ref.
Heptathlon (Senior implements)
6022
✕
Gunnar Nixon
United States
27-28 January 2012
Razorback Invitational
Fayetteville
19 years, 15 days
[ 29]
( 7.10 - 7.53 - 13.97 - 2.15 / 8.21 - 4.50 - 2:40.15 )
Heptathlon (U20 implements)
6062
Jente Hauttekeete
Belgium
13-14 February 2021
Mehrkampf - Siebenkampf U20
Frankfurt
18 years, 337 days
[ 30]
( 7.07 - 7.33 - 15.64 - 2.10 / 8.06 - 4.70 - 2:46.71 )
Men's heptathlon under-20 bests
(In completed heptathlons of more than 5200 points)
Event
Specification
Result
Score
Athlete
Nation
Date
Meet
Place
Age
Ref.
60 m
6.75
973
Ayden Owens
Puerto Rico
8 March 2019
NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships
Birmingham
18 years, 284 days
[ 31]
Long jump
7.96 m
1050
Eusebio Cáceres
Spain
6 March 2010
Spanish Junior Indoor Championships
San Sebastián
18 years, 177 days
[ 32]
Shot put
6 kg
16.51 m
883
Simon Pettersson
Sweden
10 March 2012
Swedish Indoor Junior Combined Events Championships
Göteborg
18 years, 67 days
[ 33]
7.26 kg
15.06 m
793
Matas Adamonis
Lithuania
14 December 2017
Šiauliai
19 years, 171 days
[ 34]
High jump
2.19 m
982
Yaroslav Rybakov
Russia
13 February 1999
Russian U20 Indoor Combined Events Championships
Chelyabinsk
18 years, 83 days
[ 35]
Andrei Krauchanka
Belarus
5 February 2005
Reval Hotels Cup
Tallinn
19 years, 32 days
[ 36]
First-day score
U20 implements
3476
Jente Hauttekeete
Belgium
13 February 2021
Mehrkampf - Siebenkampf U20
Frankfurt
18 years, 336 days
[ 30]
Senior implements
3466
Andrei Krauchanka
Belarus
5 February 2005
Reval Hotels Cup
Tallinn
19 years, 32 days
[ 36]
60 m hurdles
0.991 m
7.68
1064
Maxime Moitie‑Charnois
France
12 February 2023
French U20 Indoor Combined Events Championships
Val-de-Reuil
18 years, 303 days
[ 37]
1.067 m
7.84
1022
Ayden Owens
Puerto Rico
9 March 2019
NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships
Birmingham
18 years, 285 days
[ 38]
Pole vault
5.55 m
1083
Oleksandr Korchmid
Ukraine
20 December 2001
Ukraine Junior ME
Brovary
19 years, 332 days
[ 39]
1000 m
2:30.67
980
Lukáš Souček [pl ]
Czech Republic
5 March 1994
Prague
18 years, 238 days
[ 40]
Second-day score
U20 implements
2713
Maxime Moitie-Charnois
France
12 February 2023
French U20 Indoor Combined Events Championships
Val-de-Reuil
18 years, 303 days
[ 41]
Senior implements
2663
André Niklaus
Germany
6 February 2000
Frankfurt-Kalbach Int. ME Meeting
Frankfurt-Kalbach
18 years, 160 days
[ 42]
See also
Other multiple event contests include:
Summer sports
Winter sports
Other
Notes
^ In 1977, Eva Wilms threw 20.79m during a pentathlon event, which is sometimes referred to as the heptathlon best.
^ Women's javelin was redesigned in 1999 and all records started afresh. Point allocation for Heptathlon remained the same, but the comparison is being made between the WR and Heptathlon best of the current model.
References
^ "Heptathlon – Definition" . Merriam-webster.com. August 31, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2013 .
^ D'Andrea, Christian (August 12, 2016). "Here's how the heptathlon works" . SBNation.com . Retrieved December 18, 2023 .
^ Holders correct as of 2020. The European Games does not feature a heptathlon event.
^ "London 2012: Jessica Ennis leads heptathlon after first day" , The Guardian , 3 August 2012
^ "IAAF Scoring Tables for Combined Events" (PDF) . IAAF . April 2004. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2008. Retrieved August 5, 2012 .
^ "Women's Heptathlon 100 Metres Hurdles Results" . IAAF . August 3, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2012 .
^ a b c d "World Combined Best Performances" . worldathletics.org . Retrieved August 25, 2023 .
^ "Women's Heptathlon Shot Put Results" . IAAF . August 3, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2012 .
^ Hans van Kuijen (September 16, 2012). "Van Alphen and Yosypenko prevail in Talence – IAAF Combined Events Challenge" . IAAF . Retrieved September 18, 2012 .
^ [1] Archived September 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Simon Ehammer Sets Long Jump World Record in Heptathlon of 8.26m" . watchathletics.com . January 29, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2022 .
^ Krajewski, Casey (February 22, 2013). "Drouin Jumps to World Record in Heptathlon" . Indiana Daily Student . Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2013 .
^ a b Heptathlon – women – senior – outdoor . IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-01-25.
^ a b c Diego Sampaolo (May 28, 2017). "Thiam scores 7013 to break meeting record in Götzis" . IAAF. Retrieved May 28, 2017 .
^ Diego Sanpaolo (May 28, 2023). "Hall scores 6988 to win Götzis heptathlon, LePage takes decathlon" . World Athletics . Retrieved May 31, 2023 .
^ "Heptathlon Results" (PDF) . IAAF. October 3, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2019 .
^ "Women's Heptathlon Final Results" (PDF) . World Athletics . July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 .
^ Diego Sampaolo (May 27, 2018). "World leads for Thiam and Warner in Gotzis" . IAAF. Retrieved May 28, 2018 .
^ a b Heptathlon – men – senior – indoor . IAAF. Retrieved on 2023-01-31.
^ a b "Heptathlon Results" (PDF) . flashresults.ncaa.com . March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023 .
^ a b "Heptathlon Results" (PDF) . World Athletics. March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022 .
^ "Men's Heptathlon Results" (PDF) . European Athletics . March 5, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2017. Retrieved March 5, 2017 .
^ "Heptathlon Results" (PDF) . World Athletics . March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024 .
^ "Heptathlon Results" (PDF) . World Athletics . March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024 .
^ "Scantling and Crouser book Belgrade places with world-leading victories at US Indoor Championships" . World Athletics. February 28, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2022 .
^ "Heptathlon Results" (PDF) . flashresults.ncaa.com . March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2024 .
^ "Heptathlon Results" (PDF) . World Athletics . March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024 .
^ "Артем Макаренко завоевал золото на ЧР по семиборью в помещении" . mir-la.com (in Russian). February 18, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020 .
^ "IAAF World Indoor Championships Birmingham 2018 Statistics Handbook" (PDF) . World Athletics . IAAF Athletics. February 21, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 29, 2020.
^ a b "Siebenkampf (Halle) Männliche Jugend U20 - Resultate Offiziell" . Deutcher Leichtathletik Verband . Archived from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2024 .
^ Yoshiaki Oikawa (March 17, 2023). "All-time Indoor Heptathlon individual event lists" (PDF) . DecaAmerica . Archived (PDF) from the original on February 1, 2024.
^ Yoshiaki Oikawa (March 17, 2023). "All-time Indoor Heptathlon individual event lists" (PDF) . DecaAmerica . Archived (PDF) from the original on February 1, 2024.
^ "Resultat: ISM-IJSM-IUSM Mångkamp, Göteborg/FH 10‐11.3.12 Inne" . Svensk Friidrotts resultat- och statistikdatabas . Friidrottsstatistik. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024 .
^ "7-kovė vyrai - Lithuanian LAF Cup Multi-Athletic Competition, Šiauliai, 2017 December 14-15" . Lithuanian Athletics Federation . Lithuanian Athletics Federation. December 16, 2017. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018.
^ Yoshiaki Oikawa (March 17, 2023). "All-time Indoor Heptathlon individual event lists" (PDF) . DecaAmerica . Archived (PDF) from the original on February 1, 2024.
^ a b "IAAF International Association of Athletics Federations - Top Lists - Heptathlon 2005" . IAAF . IAAF . Archived from the original on March 10, 2005. Retrieved February 2, 2024 .
^ "les Résultats des Compétitions - 11/02/23 - Championnats de France d'épreuves combinées/marche en salle" . Athlé . Fédération Française d'Athlétisme. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024 .
^ Yoshiaki Oikawa (March 17, 2023). "All-time Indoor Heptathlon individual event lists" (PDF) . DecaAmerica . Archived (PDF) from the original on February 1, 2024.
^ Yoshiaki Oikawa (March 17, 2023). "All-time Indoor Heptathlon individual event lists" (PDF) . DecaAmerica . Archived (PDF) from the original on February 1, 2024.
^ "Český Atletický Svaz Halová Ročenka 1994" (PDF) . Český Atletický Svaz . Český Atletický Svaz. April 1994. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2022.
^ "les Résultats des Compétitions" . Athlé . Fédération Française d'Athlétisme. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024 .
^ "IAAF International Association of Athletics Federations - Top Lists - Heptathlon 2000" . IAAF . IAAF . Archived from the original on November 12, 2007. Retrieved February 2, 2024 .
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Heptathlon .