Comments on: The Original Decathlon Events with 800 meter Racewalk http://speedendurance.com/2008/06/27/the-original-decathlon-events-with-800-meter-racewalk/ Success in Track & Field ... and Life Tue, 22 May 2012 23:36:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: The Icosathlon and Tetradecathlon | SpeedEndurance.com http://speedendurance.com/2008/06/27/the-original-decathlon-events-with-800-meter-racewalk/#comment-57181 The Icosathlon and Tetradecathlon | SpeedEndurance.com Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:00:11 +0000 http://speedendurance.com/2008/06/27/the-original-decathlon-events-with-800-meter-racewalk/#comment-57181 [...] When you think about it, Track and Field has 19 events without relays.  So what’s the 20th event?  A 800 meter race walk which was held in the original Decathlon? [...] [...] When you think about it, Track and Field has 19 events without relays.  So what’s the 20th event?  A 800 meter race walk which was held in the original Decathlon? [...]

]]> By: Jimson Lee http://speedendurance.com/2008/06/27/the-original-decathlon-events-with-800-meter-racewalk/#comment-9433 Jimson Lee Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:52:55 +0000 http://speedendurance.com/2008/06/27/the-original-decathlon-events-with-800-meter-racewalk/#comment-9433 @Fred - my best guess is 1 stone = 14 pounds, so 4 stones = 56 lbs. Just like the weight room where plates are set in 5 lb increments. @Fred – my best guess is 1 stone = 14 pounds, so 4 stones = 56 lbs.

Just like the weight room where plates are set in 5 lb increments.

]]> By: Fred Altieri http://speedendurance.com/2008/06/27/the-original-decathlon-events-with-800-meter-racewalk/#comment-9431 Fred Altieri Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:05:53 +0000 http://speedendurance.com/2008/06/27/the-original-decathlon-events-with-800-meter-racewalk/#comment-9431 Yep. I was a youngster when Avery ruled in his second decade. The sun never seemed to shine during his regime as he was a classic throwback to the Cold War days. It seemed the athletes were always under some kind of threat from the Committee. There were some incredible performances despite the dark umbrella which covered those 20 years. That's why I consider the 1968 Smith / Carlos demonstration the first mighty blow for athletes against what was a long running dictatorial machine. The hammer throw had to have been one of the coolest events ever just from a male's point of view. The visions of Thor taking on the Gods with a hammer are endless. It must have been a potentially dangerous event, though. How many of the other athletes on the field were looking over their shoulders when these guys were practicing their throws? My favorite on your old-time decathlete list is the 56 lbs. weight throw. Who came up with the idea in the first place (was there a precedent)? What was the weight shaped like? And why on earth "56 lbs"? All ten events on the same day?! They should have all received a medal. "And the winner of the ninth place Zinc medal goes to..." Yep. I was a youngster when Avery ruled in his second decade. The sun never seemed to shine during his regime as he was a classic throwback to the Cold War days. It seemed the athletes were always under some kind of threat from the Committee. There were some incredible performances despite the dark umbrella which covered those 20 years. That’s why I consider the 1968 Smith / Carlos demonstration the first mighty blow for athletes against what was a long running dictatorial machine.

The hammer throw had to have been one of the coolest events ever just from a male’s point of view. The visions of Thor taking on the Gods with a hammer are endless. It must have been a potentially dangerous event, though. How many of the other athletes on the field were looking over their shoulders when these guys were practicing their throws?

My favorite on your old-time decathlete list is the 56 lbs. weight throw. Who came up with the idea in the first place (was there a precedent)? What was the weight shaped like? And why on earth “56 lbs”?

All ten events on the same day?! They should have all received a medal. “And the winner of the ninth place Zinc medal goes to…”

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