What does decathlon mean?
Word: Decathlon
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Decathlon means a sports contest in which each athlete competes in ten different track and field events.
How do you spell decathlon?
Syllables: de - cath - lon
Tricky part: No vowel comes between the th and the l. Decathalon is the usual slip, made by adding a beat in speech.
Watch out for: decathalon, decathelon
Memory tip: Clap three beats only as you say it. A fourth clap adds a letter that the word does not have.
Decathlon in a sentence
Example 1: India's best young athletes were training for the decathlon at the national camp.
Example 2: A decathlon tests speed, strength and stamina in equal measure.
Example 3: He came fifth in the decathlon, a fine result for a first attempt.
Fun Fact
Olympic competitors in this event are tested over two days, and the winner is often nicknamed the world's greatest athlete.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The deccathlon at our state athletics meet lasts two full days and includes running, jumping and throwing events.
a) running
b) deccathlon
c) athletics
d) throwing
Show answer
b) deccathlon. Doubling the c is the slip here; one is enough.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
d_c_thlon
a) e, o
b) e, a
c) i, a
d) a, a
Show answer
b) e, a. The opening vowel is an e and the stressed one is the short a of cat.
Mingle-Mangle
Unscramble the jumbled word in the sentence and choose the correct word:
Rohan trained for years before he entered the clanhoted at the state games.
a) marathon
b) biathlon
c) decathlon
d) triathlon
Show answer
c) decathlon. Only one option has a d and a c; the jumble has both.
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. gymnastiks 2. athleet 3. decathlon 4. hurdels
a) a row of frames to jump over in a race
b) exercises on a mat, bars or beam
c) a test of all-round skill across many events
d) a person who is trained in sport
Show answer
c) a test of all-round skill across many events. Gymnastics ends in ics, athlete in ete, and hurdles in les.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A coach is looking for a decathlon hopeful. Whom should she pick?
a) a good all-rounder in track and field
b) a sprinter who cannot jump
c) a swimmer who dislikes running
d) a chess player with sharp focus
Show answer
a) a good all-rounder in track and field
2. How is a decathlon usually won?
a) by the fastest time in one race
b) by the highest single jump
c) by the result of the final race alone
d) by the most points across all events
Show answer
d) by the most points across all events
