heptathlon

[hep-tath-luhn, ‑lon]

noun

1. an athletic contest for women comprising seven different track-and-field events and won by the contestant amassing the highest total score.

heptathlon

/ hɛpˈtæθlɒn /

noun

1. an athletic contest for women in which each athlete competes in seven different events

Other Word Forms

• heptathlete noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heptathlon¹

First recorded in 1985–90; hept- ( def. ) + (dec)athlon

Word History and Origins

Origin of heptathlon¹

C20: from _hepta- + Greek athlon contest

Example Sentences

Katarina Johnson-Thompson shared bronze in a dramatic heptathlon finale on Saturday.

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Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson captured an emotional fourth global heptathlon medal in unprecedented circumstances as she shared world bronze with American Taliyah Brooks in a dramatic concluding 800m in Tokyo.

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Defending champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson said she feels "excited" to resume her bid for a third world heptathlon title after putting herself into medal contention in Tokyo.

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It was in the Japanese capital four years ago, in a soulless stadium without spectators amid the coronavirus pandemic, that Johnson-Thompson's Olympic heptathlon hopes were shattered by injury during the 200m.

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Speaking on BBC One, four-time global heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill said: "Kishane Thompson looked phenomenal. The strength and power he had coming out of the starting blocks, his transition phase, he even slowed down massively towards the finish line. I think he's definitely one to really watch."

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