Quote

The thing I like about decathlon is also the thing I dislike: It's the maximum challenge, but also the maximum frustration.

I'm competitive. I like to compete, and that's basically what the decathlon lets me do.

I don't think anyone chooses the decathlon as much as it chooses you.

I guess the decathlon's never an easy walkthrough.

Speed is more important than endurance in the decathlon.

Decathletes have to train for every event: sprints one day, field events the next. You pump up to make yourself strong enough to throw? Try pole vaulting at 250 pounds. There are 32 guys in most decathlons, and they're in 32 little track meets.

I was a good decathlete until I got with a coach that really knew how to train specifically for the event... I'd really describe it as like being a juggler; you have ten balls and you're trying to get them all in the air at the same time.

And there is such a thing as a decathlon high. It's like a rock rolling down hill, picking up momentum. You get better and better.

There's never going to be a decathlon that you're going to have 10 events that your satisfied with. You're always, always going to be dissatisfied in something, and that always draws you back to try to retry that the next time you do a decathlon. It's like you go for the perfect 10.

Most people doing the decathlon these days are quite boring, so people don't relate to them.