Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

Before I go out on a limb and say that this could be our best Decathlon team sent to the Olympics ever! While it certainly is a great assembly of athletes, we need to take a look at the previous OT’s and compare. Here are the top 3 finishers from 2008 back to 1976 with Bruce Jenner (now featured on the E Channel). 2008Brian Clay8832 Trey Hardee8534 Tom Pappas85112004Brian Clay8660 Tom Pappas8517


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I’m gonna say ‘96. An interesting note about the ‘96 oly games deca is Steve Fritz’s score of 8644 is the highest scoring non medal ever. He’s always had a bit of a chip on his shoulder over it and I dont blame him.

padow - 02 July 2008 03:52 PM

I’m gonna say ‘96. An interesting note about the ‘96 oly games deca is Steve Fritz’s score of 8644 is the highest scoring non medal ever. He’s always had a bit of a chip on his shoulder over it and I dont blame him.

It’s tough, the ‘76 team was amazing and so was ‘96 team.  I would place this team 3rd.  Pappas earned another shot, but I like the potential in 4 years to have the best team ever.  1992 had the potential to be the best ever and fizzled in the Dan v Dave when O’Brien no heighted pole vault.

I would take 96....when you take in to account the PRs of the people involved relative to the WRs of the time and also their performances in Olympics and World Championships it doesn’t really even seem all that close to me.

All depends on the definition of “Best”

I’d take 2004...if Paul and Tom had stayed healthy these last 4 years…

Since we are saying “if”, Pappas and Clay could be very comparable to (or even better than) “Dan and Dave” if Pappas had stayed healthy.

Chad Williams - 03 July 2008 12:59 PM

Since we are saying “if”, Pappas and Clay could be very comparable to (or even better than) “Dan and Dave” if Pappas had stayed healthy.

Tom having stayed healthy, he and Brian I think would have out achieved Dan & Dave.

I still like the ‘76 group as #2 overall group based on technological improvements in implements.  Yeah, I know the Javelin distance was reduced, but weren’t the jav scoring tables adjusted in 85?  Imagine Jenner on a pole made in 1992 or 2008 compared to 1976.  I also believe the discus has become easier to throw with greater precision in rim weighting for atheletes who don’t normally specialize in the event being able to select from a variety of rim weights more suitable for their throwing ability.  Improvement in track surfaces also would have improved times slightly as well.  When I look at with a very critical eye the top 5 decathletes all-time in my eyes have been this.  The ‘76 Decathletes were also Amateurs in some of the most strict interpretations one could have being called an amateur.

1. Thompson
2. Hingsen
3. Serble
4. Dvorak
5. is a toss-up for between Jenner and O’Brien, If we give Jenner 85 points from a 1’ improvement in vault when the WR went up almost 1.5’ between ‘76’ and ‘92 and say 100 points from running events and jumps based on track improvements and shoe technology is 8819 v 8891 a mere 7.2 point differential. 

1-4 is really a toss up, but #5 is definitely close between O’Brien and Jenner.

dbandre - 04 July 2008 02:49 AM

I still like the ‘76 group as #2 overall group based on technological improvements in implements.  Yeah, I know the Javelin distance was reduced, but weren’t the jav scoring tables adjusted in 85?  Imagine Jenner on a pole made in 1992 or 2008 compared to 1976.  I also believe the discus has become easier to throw with greater precision in rim weighting for atheletes who don’t normally specialize in the event being able to select from a variety of rim weights more suitable for their throwing ability.  Improvement in track surfaces also would have improved times slightly as well.  When I look at with a very critical eye the top 5 decathletes all-time in my eyes have been this.  The ‘76 Decathletes were also Amateurs in some of the most strict interpretations one could have being called an amateur.

1. Thompson
2. Hingsen
3. Serble
4. Dvorak
5. is a toss-up for between Jenner and O’Brien, If we give Jenner 85 points from a 1’ improvement in vault when the WR went up almost 1.5’ between ‘76’ and ‘92 and say 100 points from running events and jumps based on track improvements and shoe technology is 8819 v 8891 a mere 7.2 point differential. 

Hinson never won a major title. That’s a huge knock against him in my book. Would you consider the Ato Boldon the second best sprinter ever? You could make a decent case for it based on his times but he never beat the man of the hour (Mo) and as a result many non-track fans wouldn’t even put him in there top 5 or 10. Also, Hinson was won of the worst decathletes at putting together performances near PR level in a mulit-event.

As for equipment advances, the PV one is mostly negated by the fact that the PV tables were redone in 84/85.

Jenner’s adjusted score from 1976 to now without aiding anything and taking 10% off his javelin throw was 8623 only -11 point difference.  I would have liked to have seen Jenner as a Pro against the likes of what O’Brien and Clay have done.  Considering a completely amateur Jenner’s then WR would have placed second in all but 1 of the trials.  Rafer Johnson is another from a while back who it’s hard to compare against now.

Hingsen and Thompson traded WR’s pushing the event to new levels.  I don’t necessarily think one needs to win WC or Olympic gold to be consider the second best ever when #1 is the guy who beat him and whom he traded WR’s with.