# heptathlon olympics and Decathlon whats the difference in them? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 4, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heptathlon-olympics-and-decathlon-whats-the-difference-in-them/630430 "2012-08-04T16:39:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heptathlon-olympics-and-decathlon-whats-the-difference-in-them/630430/1 "2012-08-04T16:39:13Z")
I’m watching the women’s Heptathlon this year. I remember watching Bruce Jenner in the Decathlon when I was a kid. Always admired the Decathlon athletes because they excel at so many track & field events. whats the difference in the heptathlon and Decathlon? Why have both in the Olympics? Is Heptathlon only for women? I know the mens decathlon starts next week. ---
**Author:** ![Dublin11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Dublin11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dublin11)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heptathlon-olympics-and-decathlon-whats-the-difference-in-them/630430/2 "2012-08-04T16:44:33Z")
At the Olympics, women do the heptathalon and men do the decathalon. That seems to be the difference, seven events for women and ten for men. There may be male heptathletes and female decathalons, but they don’t get to be Olympic athletes. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heptathlon-olympics-and-decathlon-whats-the-difference-in-them/630430/3 "2012-08-04T16:51:35Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > whats the difference in the heptathlon and Decathlon? The triathlon. Somebody had to say it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heptathlon-olympics-and-decathlon-whats-the-difference-in-them/630430/4 "2012-08-04T16:53:21Z")
> [@Dublin11](#): > > At the Olympics, women do the heptathalon and men do the decathalon. > > That seems to be the difference, seven events for women and ten for men. There may be male heptathletes and female decathalons, but they don’t get to be Olympic athletes. Also, the women run the 800m instead of the 1500m, hurdles are lower/distance is 10m shorter and the throw implements are lighter. [Decathlon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decathlon)[Heptathlon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heptathlon) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heptathlon-olympics-and-decathlon-whats-the-difference-in-them/630430/5 "2012-08-04T17:25:04Z")
Britain’s Jessica Ennis is on track for the gold in the heptathlon. Amazing athlete and fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![BunnyTVS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BunnyTVS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyTVS)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heptathlon-olympics-and-decathlon-whats-the-difference-in-them/630430/6 "2012-08-04T21:17:52Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Britain’s Jessica Ennis is on track for the gold in the heptathlon. Amazing athlete and fun to watch. As one of the many men who’ll be suffering from Ennis elbow after this weekend I wholeheartedly agree. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heptathlon-olympics-and-decathlon-whats-the-difference-in-them/630430/7 "2012-08-04T22:03:02Z")
She got the Gold. This article has pics of Jessica in all her events. Shot Put - was her weakness. Javelin - she set a lifetime best for herself. > **[The golden girl delivers: Jessica Ennis crowned Olympic heptathlon champion...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2183583/The-golden-girl-delivers-Jessica-Ennis-crowned-Olympic-heptathlon-champion-winning-800m-jubilant-Olympic-Stadium-crowd.html)** > > The golden girl of British athletics lived up to her pre-Games billing as she was crowned heptathlon champion in front of a partisan sell-out crowd at the Olympic Stadium. Training for all those track & field events is such an achievement. I always thought the Decathlon/heptathlon athletes were really the overall best in track & field because they do everything really well. I rather do a lot of things good then just be a great sprinter or a great long jumper. ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heptathlon-olympics-and-decathlon-whats-the-difference-in-them/630430/8 "2012-08-04T22:50:26Z")
To answer the original post: Decathlon Day 1: 100 meter Long Jump Shot Put High Jump 400 meter Day 2: 110 Hurdles Discus Pole Vault Javelin 1500 meters Heptathlon Day 1: 100 Hurdles High Jump Shot Put 200 meters Day 2: Long Jump Javelin 800 meters And as previously noted, the field event implements are lighter for the women and the hurdles are lower.