ATHLETIC DECATHLON: ARE THERE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE RESULTS OF DECATHLON RECORD-HOLDERS AND THEIR BEST PERSONAL RESULTS?
Athletic decathlon is psychophysically very challenging athletic competition that takes place over two consecutive days. Decathlon athletes are usually said to be the most dexterous and versatile athletes because they have to be good in all disciplines. It is the only competition where the athlete is struggling with themselves, as all disciplines are scored, and the winner is the one who has the most points (Pts) after the last discipline. This survey included five top 10 decathlon world record holders for the period from 1984 to 2016 and their results. Those five athletes areDaley Thompson, Dan O’Brien, Thomas Dvorak, Roman Sebrle, and Ashton Eaton. The main objective of the research was to analyze and determine the differences between the results of the record results in the decathlon and their best personal results. A t-test for small independent samples was applied to obtain the necessary information. The results obtained confirmed statistically significant differences in 50% of the disciplines for both levels of significance. Differences were evident in disciplines like high jump (t=-4,440; p<0.011), 110m hurdles (t=-3,769; p<0,020), discus (t=-3,958; p<0.017), pole vault (t=-4,706; p<0.009) and 1500m (t=-2,903; p<0.044). On the basis of the point distribution, the so-called dominance is noticeable in the so called motor disciplines versus technical and power disciplines.