2003 - Combined Events Review

In the concluding edition of their comprehensive review of the last twelve months of Athletics competition, statisticians A. Lennart Julin and Mirko Jalava give their impressions of the Combined Events in 2003 - the men’s Decathlon and women’s Heptathlon.

One year ago the following was pointed out in the review: “It should be noted that the overall trend of the Decathlon if you look at the levels of performance is currently negative which seems to indicate that the interest in pursuing this event is vaning.” Click here for link to 2002 review.

Unfortunately 2003 didn’t bring any change in this trend, rather another low of only 22 athletes over 8000 points was recorded. The trend also manifested itself conspicuously at the World Championships, where the Paris edition ends up last when compared to the eight previous editions regardless of which figures you look at – number of participants, number over 8000 points, number over 8300 points or the point score needed to get a medal!

In most of the traditional Decathlon powers – especially Germany and the former Soviet nations – the depth is gone. Even the most modern Decathlon power the Czech Republic seems to have lost its ability to attract new talents to the event. In the year 2000 they had four over 8300 and three more over 7700 – now just three years later the only Czechs over 7700 were the two ‘veterans’ Roman Sebrle and Tomas Dvorak!

Of course not everything is “immediate doom and gloom”. The top two – Tom Pappas and Roman Sebrle – certainly performed consistently on a very high level (8700/8800), and have three and one more year respectively before turning thirty.

Furthermore Paris probably will be remembered as the big international breakhtrough for 22-years old Kazak Dmitry Karpov. Duing the first seven events Karpov was matching Pappas/Sebrle and although the difficulties involved should not be underestimated, he should be able to improve his “problem events” the Pole Vault and the Javelin Throw sufficiently to become an 8.800+ scorer in a couple of years.  So the future could very well belong to Karpov.

With the Decathlon obviously losing ground in Europe, it's to the USA we might look for hope. The USA who almost continuously recruit a tiny but steady stream of new decathletes, were unlucky in Paris but 23-year olds Bryan Clay and Paul Terek both have the potential to be up there challenging for medals already next year.

Click here for a link to the IAAF World Combined Eevnts Challenge 2003

Decathlon - IAAF WORLD RANKINGS - as of 15 Dec 2003  
Position - Name - DOB - Country - Points 
            
1. Tom PAPPAS 76 USA 1408
2. Roman ŠEBRLE 74 CZE 1378
3. Laurent HERNU 76 FRA 1277
4. Dmitriy KARPOV 81 KAZ 1248
5. Jón Arnar MAGNÚSSON 69 ISL 1233
6. Aleksandr POGORELOV 80 RUS 1196
7. Romain BARRAS 80 FRA 1187
8. Vitaly SMIRNOV 78 UZB 1177
8. Stephen MOORE 75 USA 1177
10. André NIKLAUS 81 GER 1176

Although Eunice Barber (FRA) bounced back successfully from her 2001 Edmonton disaster and injuries, the Heptathlon was very much a one-woman-show in 2003.

Carolina Klüft (SWE), who broke the World junior record with her winning performance of 6542 in the 2002 European Championships, proved that she can also take worldwide senior titles.

The double World junior champion from 2000/2002, started her season by taking the World indoor title in Pentathlon and carried on to two successful 6600+ point wins in Götzis, and the European Cup First League in Tallinn.

But the best of 'Carro' was left to Paris. After what one could describe as a perfect Heptathlon, Klüft became the third woman to go over 7000 points with her winning performance of 7001 points. The Swede also showed great mental strength having fouled her first two attempts in the Long Jump, as Klüft then produced a 6.68m with her last jump, only 9cm below her best mark in a multievent competition. Her Paris series was excellent with six personal bests in eight events.

Barber was a distant second almost 250 points behind Klüft scoring her season’s best of 6755 points. Even though Klüft at the top makes the event seem top quality, the truth is different. Sixth place at Paris was taken with an extremely low total of 6166 points.

Overall, there was some progress from last season, there were now 32 athletes over 6000 points. 1996 had 39 over 6000, 1997 33, 1998 36, 1999 27, 2000 48, 2001 30 and 2002 only 26.

Click here for a link to the IAAF World Combined Eevnts Challenge 2003

 Heptathlon - IAAF WORLD RANKINGS - as of 15 Dec 2003  
Position - Name - DOB - Country - Points
            
1. Carolina KLÜFT 83 SWE 1436
2. Yelena PROKHOROVA 78 RUS 1268
3. Sonja KESSELSCHLÄGER 78 GER 1234
4. Larisa TETERYUK-NETSEPORUK 70 EST 1203
5. Gertrud BACHER 71 ITA 1197
6. Austra SKUJYTÉ 79 LTU 1166
7. Argyro STRATAKI 75 GRE 1158
8. Svetlana KAZANINA 71 KAZ 1155
9. Marie COLLONVILLÉ 73 FRA 1154
10. Margaret SIMPSON 82 GHA 1153