Jordan Gray’s fight for a women’s decathlon

[18.99s]

They will have the SAME opportunities as the men have, which is what 'gender equality' means. If a man can find the opportunity, so can a woman.

Do I really have to remind you that Title IX only exists in the USA?

[Atticus]

Do I really have to remind you that Title IX only exists in the USA?

??!!
My point is merely that wherever world-wide decathletes train, it's obvious that women can too. World-wide women are using track facilities . . . world-wide.

[polevaultpower]

Was it a mistake to move women from the pentathlon to the heptathlon? Why was it OK to disenfranchise the athletes who were better in the pent than the hep, but not OK to disenfranchise the athletes who are better in the hep than the dec?

[polevaultpower]

It isn't only American athletes expressing interest in the decathlon: http://decathletesofeurope.co.uk/int...for-everybody/

[gm]

It isn't only American athletes expressing interest in the decathlon: http://decathletesofeurope.co.uk/int...for-everybody/

Not to be too harsh, but has anyone good from Europe (say, 6200+ hept score) expressed such desires?

[polevaultpower]

Not to be too harsh, but has anyone good from Europe (say, 6200+ hept score) expressed such desires?

Nafi is decathlon-curious: https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/vi...lon-for-women/

Within the US, I have multiple 6000+ heps who are interested in a decathlon if we schedule it for after the Olympics. They saw what Jordan did last year and want to see if they can beat her.

There is no need to disenfranchise the current heptathletes. To do it right, you phase it in over eight years and let all of the current elite heptathletes finish their careers in the hep, except for the youngest heps who would have eight years to get ready for the dec, which is better treatment than the women got when the IAAF switched from the pent to the hep.

[polevaultpower]

It is a false narrative, designed to hold women back, that the only option is to abruptly eliminate the heptathlon and force those women to switch to the dec. Of course we will never move forward if that is the only option given.

[Atticus]

There is no need to disenfranchise the current heptathletes. To do it right, you phase it in over eight years and let all of the current elite heptathletes finish their careers in the hep, except for the youngest heps who would have eight years to get ready for the dec, which is better treatment than the women got when the IAAF switched from the pent to the hep.

I'm totally wid ya, Becca!

[polevaultpower]

It is disappointing that some people feel the best response to, "not every athlete has access to every event" is to get rid of the decathlon, rather than work on solutions that increase access.

[MJR]

Do I really have to remind you that Title IX only exists in the USA?

Yet, somehow all these non Title IX nations field teams of athletes in T&F in other events. How does this happen? Magic?

[18.99s]

Yet, somehow all these non Title IX nations field teams of athletes in T&F in other events.

But most of them are lacking in the women's pole vault. And most have vastly lower participation in most other women's sports relative to men's sports.

[18.99s]

It is disappointing that some people feel the best response to, "not every athlete has access to every event" is to get rid of the decathlon, rather than work on solutions that increase access.

Let's increase access first, then switch to the dec when access has increased to the point where replacing the hep won't result in a significant net decrease in access.

[Tuariki]

Let's increase access first, then switch to the dec when access has increased to the point where replacing the hep won't result in a significant net decrease in access.

Access will never happen until the decathlon is formalised

[18.99s]

Was it a mistake to move women from the pentathlon to the heptathlon? Why was it OK to disenfranchise the athletes who were better in the pent than the hep, but not OK to disenfranchise the athletes who are better in the hep than the dec?

The hep doesn't have the pole vault, so the switch didn't cause a net loss of opportunity and access (although some individual athletes were left behind because their skills were more suited to the pent).

[Conor Dary]

I presume this is all about the Olympics....whose future is not guaranteed...making this discussion moot.