Decathlon2000 goes free

There is something with myself and Decathlon2000. First, the site is perhaps the best english-speaking decathlon site out there. (Just in case you do not get the "english-speaking" addition, I can make clear that the very best decathlon site is the one of my friends' Frédéric and Pierre Gousset, but, alas, in french: Décapassion). Second I am a huge decathlon fan. So, why do I have this reserved attitude when it comes to Decathlon2000? I have been writing my blog for over 10 years before referring for the first time to Decathlon 2000.

I tried to analyse my attitude and I concluded that my relative reticence was due to the fact that Decathlon2000 was for the major part behind a paywall. And I hate paywalls. I can understand it when newspapers do this. After all, they must make a living in the digital era and there is no other way to do this. But when somebody who is writing a blog out of passion tries to monetise it I start bristling. You can call me old-school, but I maintain that passion and money do not go together.

So, again, when I read in Décapassion around the beginning of July that Decathlon2000 was tearing down the paywalls I somehow suppressed the info and did not report right away. Today I am remedying this. Because, let's be fair, Decathlon2000 is the bible of combined events. If you look for statistical data that's the place you should visit. Ditto for historical articles. So from here onwards my attitude towards Decathlon2000 will definitely change. 

I forgot, there is one more thing (the expression is a tribute to the great Steve Jobs). Decathlon2000 is free but accepts donations. And this is something I totally condone. There is nothing more natural when you appreciate something than to make a small gift. So, if you become a regular visitor to J. Salmitsu's site, think about a donation. 

PS. Those who follow my blog have certainly remarked that I am a stickler for details. So I visited the decathlon point and I saw this

Now, why on earth, is there a different format for jumps and for throws? Both are measuring distances. I was thinking about replacing the USATF calculator I have been using for years by that of Decathlon2000 but I am sure that latter will grate on my nerves whenever I will open the window. So I am going to stick with the USATF one for the time being.