• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Click here to download the  free ebook of Alberto Juantorena’s  detailed training workouts leading up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics

SpeedEndurance.com

Success in Track & Field ... and Life

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Track & Field
    • 400 meters
    • 800m & Mile
    • 1/2 & Full Marathons
    • Long & Triple Jump
    • Hurdles
  • Training
    • Weight Training
    • Abs & Core
    • Injury Prevention
    • Shoes & Spikes
    • Masters
  • Coaching
    • Freelap Friday Five
    • Interviews
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Sport Psychology
  • Archives
  • Shop
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Basket

Comparing Strength Power and Speed Performances

You are here: Home / Other Sports / Comparing Strength Power and Speed Performances
4
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

February 3, 2012 by Jimson Lee 2 Comments

Last Updated on March 14, 2013 by Jimson Lee

Who is the world’s greatest athlete in terms of Strength, Power and Speed?

Who is the greatest all-around athlete?

Decathletes?

In this month’s issue of The Strength & Speed Newsletter, my good friend Clay Parker wrote an article on the greatest all-around athletes based on athletic feats and performances that are scored in Dale Harder’s book, You Can Compare Apples to Oranges, where athletic performances are scored on a 1-1000 point scale based on the impressiveness and rarity of the performance.

More info on Dale’s book and the newsletter are available at http://www.strengthospeedia.org/

Dale Harder’s Strength & Speed Newsletter includes coverage and articles about Track & field, Weightlifting, Powerlifting as well as unusual feats of speed and strength. To subscribe, please email Dale Harder at daleharderep@gmail.com for more information.

Here is a sample of some of the results:

20.  CHRIS HUFFINS, DECATHLON, 6’3 180lb,  4774 POINTS (not decathlon points)

Huffins is not recognized by most fans; he had a solid but not exceptional decathlon career. Huffins is best known for his gutty 1500 meter run in Sydney to grab a bronze medal. Although Huffins never won old or set a WR, his talent was tremendous. He holds the decathlon 100m WR and was a great leaper.

23.  TOMAS DVORAK, DECATHLON, 6’2 190 4751 POINTS

Roman’s countryman from the Czech Republic cracks the list at #23. Dvorak is 2nd on the all-time decathlon list and was a 3-time World Champ.  It’s scary how Dvorak and Sebrle’s mark compare. His accomplishments are not as strong as Sebrle yet he deserves to be remembered in his own right

See also  Peaking, Planning and Periodization

24. ROMAN SEBRLE, DECATHLON, 6’2 190 4749 POINTS

The decathlon world record holder and only man to break the 9,000 point barrier comes in at #24. An amazing natural athlete, but like fellow decathlete legend, Daley Thompson, his work ethic and amazing competitive spirit is not measured in these rankings. Nonetheless, Roman deserves a place on this list.

25.  ASHTON EATON ,DECATHLON, 6’2 180 4746 POINTS

Eaton won the 2011 US national decathlon title and finished 2nd at the World Champs. He’s a tremendous talent and many decathlon experts give him a shot at the gold in London as well as the world record. Watch him improve in the decathlon and here – how high will he go? top 20? 10? #1?

27.  JUSTIN GATLIN, SPRINTER, 6’1 175 4728 POINTS

Justin edged out Carl Lewis for the top (and only) sprinter on this list. In addition to his sprinting exploits, Justin was a great hurdler in college and had some great combine marks in an aborted NFL tryout.

28. RAFER JOHNSON, DECATHLON, 6’3 200 4719 POINTS

Decathlon experts marvel about his athletic ability which really speaks volumes about his true ability. Rafer retired at the early age of 25 after two Olympic medals or else his numbers would have improved even more. Rafer was a standout basketball player at UCLA and truly an all-time great athlete.

29. VALERY BRUMEL, HIGH JUMP, 6’1 175 4716 POINTS

Recognized by many experts as the greatest high jumper of all-time before a motorcycle accident ended his career early. Brumel was also a fantastic all-around athlete, who set the Russian heptathlon record and flirted with the decathlon but never competed in one. 10.5 and a near 52 ft shot put are not shabby.

See also  Interview with Ashton Eaton

30. DALEY THOMPSON, DECATHLON, 6’0 205 4711 POINTS

Many experts consider Daley the greatest decathlete ever. It’s hard to argue:  2 Olympic gold medals and a 4th place at age 30. He’s a little lower here than track fans would like but one thing that these numbers don’t account for is his amazing competiveness and performance under pressure.

Category iconOther Sports,  Track & Field Tag iconAshton Eaton,  Dale Harder

About Jimson Lee

I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pat Charles says

    February 3, 2012 at 4:43 pm

    Good Day,
    Intriguing premise. Only one comment, even though I realise that you are simple reporting what is elsewhere. I cannot agree with Gatlin over Carl Lewis, not with Carl’s domination of the Long Jump, including the best series of jumps ever: who else has done 29′ or better more than once, and he did it thrice in one meet? Mentioning his sprinting longevity probably adds fuel to it.

    Just my two cents.

    Reply
  2. Clay Parker says

    February 21, 2012 at 5:37 pm

    This list has nothing to do with accomplishments and honors – its based on pure performances. Of course, Carl’s career is much better than Gatlins.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Recommended

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xbs-aWxyLk

Shop Our Store

  • Bud Winter (9)
  • Championship Productions (6)
  • Clyde Hart (2)
  • Derek Hansen (1)
  • Electrical Muscle Stimulation (2)
  • Jim Hiserman (6)
  • Jimson Lee (4)
  • Uncategorised (0)

Articles by Category

Products

  • Jim Hiserman - Developing 800m Runners: Identifying, Categorizing and Developing 400m-800m Type Athletes $42.99 $39.99
  • Private Coaching - Monthly Plan $600.00 $525.00
  • Jim Hiserman-Developing-Distance-Runnersv2 Jim Hiserman - Developing Distance Runners Volume 2: A Systematic Approach to Developing Individual Success within a Dynamic Team Culture $34.95 $29.95
  • Feed-the-Cats-Clinic-3-Pack-701 'Feed the Cats' Clinic 3-Pack $64.99
  • Tony Holler's Feed the Cats": A Complete Sprint Training Program Tony Holler's "Feed the Cats" Complete Sprint Training Program $49.99
  • Bud Winter and Speed City presents Arthur Lydiard 509x716 Bud Winter & Arthur Lydiard MP3 [Download only] $9.99

RECENT POSTS

  • Oregon22 Coaches Club now Online
  • IFAC 2022: The Return of In-Person Conferences (with Virtual option)
  • Here is our 400m Discussion Recording… over 2 Hours Long
  • The Best Free Coaching Book – post Beijing 2022 Olympics
  • The Ultimate 400m Track Webinar for Coaches & Athletes
  • NACAC Athletics Coaching Science Series 2022
  • Top Six 400m Predictor Workouts (Number 4 is my Favourite)
  • Best 6 Podcasts for 2021 (and Beyond)
  • Why Karsten Warholm’s 45.94 400mH WR is my Highlight of 2021
  • Sprinting: 10 Research Articles for Effective Sprint Training [Part 23]

Copyright © 2023. SpeedEndurance.com is owned and operated by Aryta Ltd. Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}