Multi Events

For some athletes, just one event isn’t enough. Some have to train in several before they feel they are fulfilled. Many athletes will compete in multi events to truly test their athletic ability. Sprinters will often compete in the entire sprint series of events the same as distance runners will run the distance series. Many field athletes will compete in the throwing, jumping and vaulting events as well creating their own multi event series.

There are also other multi event combinations that can be made to take full advantage of the athlete’s abilities. Sprinters quite often make some of the best jumpers. One of the most famous examples of this is American Carl Lewis. He was internationally known for his speed on the track in the 100 meters race. He was also quite competitive in relays and other races in the sprint series. However what many don’t realize is that Carl Lewis won 4 gold medals at 4 consecutive Olympics in the long jump. This made him one of the most famous multi event competitors in history.

Sprinters and runners also do well in some of the throwing events. The javelin throw uses many of the same muscle groups and incorporates much of the same training. Sprinters who want to compete in multi events often will choose javelin as an alternative.

There are also competitions that comprise a series of contests. One of the most famous of these multi events contests is the decathlon. These athletes compete in 10 separate contests over two days. They are judged on performance rather than position. The Penthalon is another such multi event day. This comprises 5 separate contests over the space of one day. The activities are highly varies including swimming, horseback, shooting, running and fencing. This is one of the oldest and most versitile multi event competitions in existence.

Many athletes compete in several different events. There multi event skills often transfer over into other areas making them completive in several events. There are also contests based on multi events, to truly test an athlete’s skill and ability.