heptathlon
- Related Topics:
- pole vault
- shot put
- long jump
- high jump
- javelin throw
heptathlon, athletics competition in which contestants take part in seven different track-and-field events in two days. The heptathlon replaced the women’s pentathlon in the Olympic Games after 1981. The women’s heptathlon consists of the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, and 200-meter run on the first day; and the running long (broad) jump, javelin throw, and 800-meter run on the second day. Competitors are scored for their performance in each event according to a table established by World Athletics. Notable Olympic gold-medal winners in heptathlon include Jackie Joyner-Kersee (U.S.), Carolina Klüft (Sweden), and Jessica Ennis-Hill (U.K.). A less-common men’s version of the heptathlon takes place indoors and replaces the hurdles, javelin throw, and runs with the 60-meter hurdles, pole vault, and 60- and 100-meter runs.