- heptathlon
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/hep tath"leuhn, -lon/, n.an athletic contest for women comprising seven different track-and-field events and won by the contestant amassing the highest total score.[1985-90; HEPT- + (DEC)ATHLON]
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Women's athletics competition.Contestants take part in seven different track-and-field events: 100-m hurdles, shot put, high jump, long jump, javelin throw, and 200-and 800-m runs. The two-day event replaced the women's pentathlon in the Olympic Games after 1981.* * *
women's athletics competition in which contestants take part in seven different track-and-field events on two days. The heptathlon replaced the women's pentathlon in the Olympic Games after 1981. The heptathlon consists of the 100-metre hurdles, high jump, shot put, and 200-metre run on the first day; and the running long (broad) jump, javelin throw, and 800-metre run on the second day. Competitors are scored for their performance in each event according to a table established by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Jackie Joyner-Kersee (Joyner-Kersee, Jackie), two-time U.S. Olympic gold-medal winner, was the most notable heptathlete.* * *
Universalium. 2010.