an athletic contest in which each contestant takes part in ten events (100-meter dash, 400-meter dash, long jump, 16-pound shot-put, high jump, 110-meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1500-meter run): the winner is the contestant receiving the highest total of points
Origin:
dec(a)- + Gr athlon, a prize
See decathlon in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
An athletic contest usually limited to men in which each contestant participates in the following ten track and field events: the 100-meter, 400-meter, and 1,500-meter runs; the 110-meter high hurdles; the discus and javelin throws; the shot put; the pole vault; the high jump; and the long jump.