decathlon

From deca- +‎ -athlon, coined for the 1912 Summer Olympics in analogy to the word pentathlon.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /diːˈkæθlɒn/, /dɪˈkæθlɒn/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

decathlon (plural decathlons or decathla)

1. An athletic contest consisting of ten events which includes sprinting, hurdling, jumping, and throwing over a span of two days.
   • 2020 December 2, Richard Goldstein, “Rafer Johnson, Winner of a Memorable Decathlon, Is Dead”, in The New York Times‎^[1]:

     He entered U.C.L.A. in 1954 and played for the renowned coach John Wooden’s basketball team there while training for decathlons.

   • 2021 July 6, Shauna Farnell, “An Olympic Hurdle: Why Is the Decathlon Only for Men?”, in The New York Times‎^[2]:

     For now, Gray and her peers are able to compete for Olympic berths only in the seven-event heptathlon, while the decathlon is restricted to men.

2. A contest in science and math proving skill.

• decathlete

• latched on

From deca- +‎ -athlon.

decathlon m (invariable)

1. (athletics) decathlon

• decatleta