A decathlon is an athletic competition lasting two consecutive days in which contestants take part in 10 track-and-field events. The events include the 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400-meter run, 110-meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1500-meter run. Competitors are scored for their performance in each event according to a table established by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)
. The decathlon developed from the ancient pentathlon competitions held at the ancient Greek Olympics and was first contested at the United States amateur championships in 1884
. It is a demanding test of an athlete's speed, strength, skill, and agility, covering the whole range of athletics disciplines spread over two days
