Decathlon scoring Quotes


The most striking thing about the decathlon is that the tables giving the number of points awarded for different performances are rather free inventions. Someone decided them first back in 1912 and they have subsequently been updated on different occasions, taking into account performances in all the events by decathletes and specialist competitors.

How to Calculate Decathlon Points

Decathlon points are calculated using the following formulas:

Points = INT(A(B — P)C) for track events (faster time produces a better score)
Points = INT(A(P — B)C) for field events (greater distance or height produces a better score)

How to Calculate Heptathlon Points

Heptathlon points are calculated using the following formulas:

Points = INT(A(B — P)^C) for track events (faster time produces a better score)
Points = INT(A(P — B)^C) for field events (greater distance or height produces a better score)

The answer is to develop some type of formula that uses the results from each event to return a value. To make it fair, all 10 events would carry equal weight. This task is easier said than done.