The 2026 edition of World Women's Decathlon Championships were held in Oberlin (Ohio) on July 8&9. And it was a smashing success. You can find all the details on the Décapassion blog, curated by my friends Frédéric and Pierre Gousset.
Just after the first day I exchanged some mail with them and we shared our optimism on a possible 8000+ final score. Unfortunately that was not to be. But still, overall, that was the best women's decathlon ever. N. Boon who had won the 2025 edition last year with 7451 points improved her score to 7714 but had to contend herself with bronze medal. R. Bidois added close to 500 points to her score and still lost on place in the final classification. And I should point out that C. Newton-Smith who won the event with 7900 is a 6200 points heptathlete. We can only dream what a 6600 heptathlete could do with a one season preparation. (But, to be fair, Newton-Smith has always been practicing the pole vault, so she had only to learn how to throw the discus).
There are some excellent photos on the Décapassion Facebook page. What I would like to share here are the results. There were in fact two competitions staged at the same time, one for the elite and a promotional one with a good 50 participants overall.
What is really interesting is that almost all participants had a valid performance in pole vault. Slowly this discipline is becoming a women's event (as prophesied in an old article of mine). And what I find astonishing is the second place, in the promotional event, of a 13-year old competitor. Lila Neese is a budding pole vaulter but I cross my fingers that she pursue her decathlon adventure in the coming years. Clearly the next generation of female decathletes, the ones who will practice the event in WA-sanctioned competitions and championships, is here already. Let us hope that lord Sebastian sees the light.
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