Athletics at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon explained

Event:Men's decathlon
Games:1960 Summer
Venue:Stadio Olimpico
Dates:5–6 September
Competitors:30
Nations:20
Longnames:yes
Win Value:8392
Win Label:Winning points
Gold:Rafer Johnson
Goldnoc:USA
Silver:Yang Chuan-kwang
Silvernoc:ROC
Bronze:Vasili Kuznetsov
Bronzenoc:URS
Prev:1956
Next:1964

The men's decathlon at the 1960 Summer Olympics took place between 5 September and 6 September at the Stadio Olimpico.[1]

Summary

Despite the presence of previous world record holder Vasili Kuznetsov, the competition quickly became a battle between UCLA training partners Rafer Johnson and Yang Chuan-kwang, known as C.K. Yang. After two years of training together under "Ducky" Drake, each knew the other's abilities.

Yang's abilities lay in the speed events, building an almost 90 point lead in the first two events (100m and long jump). Johnson was superior in the throwing events. At the end of the first day, Johnson had a 55-point advantage.

The second day began with Yang speeding to a 180-point advantage in the 110 hurdles. Johnson countered with a 270-point gain in the Discus. Yang continued to dominate in the pole vault but Johnson set a personal record in the event, minimizing Yang's gain. Yang followed that by staying close to Johnson in the javelin, leaving the final event, Yang's best event, the 1500m to decide the competition. Both knew Yang would need to defeat Johnson by 10 seconds to win. Johnson did not break, finishing a mere 1.2 seconds behind Yang to claim the gold medal.[2] Yang beat Johnson in seven of the ten events, but Johnson beat Yang by significant margins in the shot put and discus to win. The two warmly congratulated each other after the conclusion of the event and waved to the crowd.

Records

Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows:

Results

100m

RankAthleteCountryTimePointsNotes
1 10.7 1034
2 10.8 990
3 10.9 948
4 11.1 870
4 11.1 870
4 11.1 870
5 11.2 834
6 11.3 800
6 11.3 800
6 11.3 800
6 11.3 800
7 11.4 768
7 11.4 768
7 11.4 768
7 11.4 768
8 11.5 737
8 11.5 737
8 11.5 737
8 11.5 737
8 11.5 737
9 11.6 707
9 11.6 707
9 11.6 707
9 11.6 707
10 11.7 638
11 11.8 650
11 11.8 650
12 12.0 597
12 12.0 597

Long jump

RankAthleteCountry123MarkPoints
1 7.46 7.13 7.37 7.46 950
2 7.21 6.92 7.35 7.35 906
3 7.21 7.21 856
4 6.95 7.14 7.14 932
5 7.12 7.09 6.70 7.12 825
6 6.95 6.86 6.96 6.96 773
7 6.58 6.94 6.94 767
7 6.94 6.65 6.74 6.94 767
8 6.60 6.93 6.84 6.93 764
8 6.47 6.93 6.93 764
8 6.71 6.93 6.93 764
8 6.71 6.93 6.64 6.93 764
8 6.47 6.93 6.93 764
8 6.93 6.93 764
9 6.37 6.78 6.91 6.91 758
10 6.77 5.78 6.88 6.88 749
11 6.57 6.51 6.43 6.57 746
11 6.87 6.87 746
12 6.15 6.55 6.81 6.81 728
13 6.79 7.37 6.79 722
14 6.50 6.73 6.73 704
15 6.63 6.69 6.67 6.69 692
16 6.09 6.62 6.62 672
17 6.05 6.51 6.54 6.54 651
18 6.16 6.39 6.39 610
19 6.21 6.14 6.32 6.32 592
20 6.03 6.23 6.22 6.23 570
21 6.20 6.20 562
22 5.92 5.65 5.92 493
23 NM 0

Shot put

RankAthleteCountry123MarkPoints
1 14.55 15.82 15.26 15.82 976
2 14.29 14.96 14.96 872
3 14.55 - 14.55 827
4 14.41 14.46 14.46 817
5 14.18 13.11 14.18 788
6 14.10 13.77 13.82 14.10 780
7 12.51 13.97 13.83 13.97 767
8 13.49 13.89 13.80 13.89 759
9 13.76 13.57 13.71 13.76 746
10 13.68 13.25 13.34 13.68 738
11 13.59 13.54 13.10 13.59 729
12 13.58 13.36 13.58 728
13 12.93 13.42 13.24 13.42 712
14 12.42 13.33 13.33 703
15 12.55 13.22 13.21 13.22 692
16 13.19 12.84 11.20 13.19 689
17 12.68 13.10 13.10 681
18 13.32 12.21 12.74 13.32 648
19 12.24 11.86 12.65 12.65 640
20 11.75 12.42 12.42 619
21 12.30 8.27 12.30 609
22 12.06 11.74 11.79 12.06 587
23 10.83 12.03 11.45 12.03 584
24 11.11 11.49 11.78 11.78 562
25 10.68 11.38 11.44 11.44 535
26 11.35 11.24 10.57 11.35 528
27 10.26 10.77 11.77 11.77 505
28 10.65 10.85 10.67 10.85 488
29 9.74 10.59 10.59 467
30 9.20 9.49 9.71 9.71 406

High jump

RankAthleteCountryMarkPoints
1 1.90 900
1 1.90 900
2 1.85 832
2 1.85 832
2 1.85 832
3 1.83 806
3 1.83 806
3 1.83 806
3 1.83 806
4 1.80 770
4 1.80 770
4 1.80 770
4 1.80 770
4 1.80 770
4 1.80 770
5 1.75 711
5 1.75 711
5 1.75 711
5 1.75 711
5 1.75 711
6 1.73 689
6 1.73 689
6 1.73 689
7 1.70 656
7 1.70 656
7 1.70 656
8 1.65 605
8 1.65 605
8 1.65 605
- - -

400m

RankAthleteCountryTimePoints
1 48.0 1015
2 48.1 1005
3 48.3 985
4 49.5 884
5 50.0 844
6 50.2 828
7 50.5 807
7 50.5 807
7 50.5 807
7 50.5 807
8 50.7 793
9 51.0 772
10 51.1 765
10 51.1 765
11 51.2 758
12 51.3 751
12 51.3 751
13 51.8 716
13 51.8 716
14 52.0 702
15 52.2 690
16 53.0 642
17 53.2 630
18 53.6 606
19 53.9 588
20 54.1 576
21 54.3 565
- - Retired
- - Retired

110m hurdles

RankAthleteCountryTime Points
1 14.6 923
2 14.7 894
3 14.9 840
4 15.0 813
5 15.3 740
5 15.3 740
5 15.3 740
6 15.5 694
7 15.6 673
7 15.6 673
8 15.7 652
8 15.7 652
8 15.7 652
9 15.8 632
10 15.9 612
11 16.0 593
12 16.1 575
13 16.2 557
14 16.4 523
15 16.9 443
15 16.9 443
16 17.1 413
17 17.3 385
18 18.1 283
18 18.1 283
19 18.4 250
- - Did not start

Discus throw

RankAthleteCountry123MarkPoints
1 44.34 45.05 50.52 50.52 972
2 48.98 47.94 49.58 49.58 935
3 44.54 48.24 48.49 48.49 894
4 43.27 42.93 45.67 45.67 797
5 45.48 44.22 45.63 45.63 795
6 44.93 43.32 44.37 44.93 773
7 42.52 44.31 44.31 753
8 31.33 40.77 40.77 648
9 36.30 38.25 40.49 40.49 640
10 38.59 28.98 40.12 40.12 630
11 39.83 37.91 36.59 39.83 622
12 38.78 39.50 36.87 39.50 612
13 39.18 39.09 38.07 39.18 603
14 36.92 37.95 39.08 39.08 601
15 37.94 37.94 571
16 37.87 36.47 35.18 37.87 569
17 37.02 37.69 37.69 564
18 31.24 37.66 37.66 563
19 34.14 36.61 37.55 37.55 561
20 34.33 37.35 36.67 37.35 555
21 35.54 34.40 37.03 37.03 547
22 33.07 34.14 34.68 34.68 487
23 34.06 33.98 34.28 34.28 477
24 34.12 34.12 473
25 31.79 30.63 30.94 31.79 418
- - - - DNP -

Pole vault

RankAthleteCountryMarkPoints
1 4.30 915
2 4.20 855
3 4.10 795
3 4.10 795
4 4.00 745
5 3.90 695
5 3.90 695
6 3.80 645
6 3.80 645
6 3.80 645
7 3.70 596
7 3.70 596
8 3.60 556
8 3.60 556
8 3.60 556
9 3.50 516
10 3.40 476
11 3.30 438
11 3.30 438
11 3.30 438
11 3.30 438
12 3.20 400
12 3.20 400
13 NM 0
- - Retired

Javelin throw

RankAthleteCountry123MarkPoints
1 71.44 62.88 70.03 71.44 1031
2 71.20 61.62 62.12 71.20 1024
3 69.76 67.04 63.90 69.76 980
4 65.90 68.22 65.11 68.22 937
5 57.70 59.54 65.30 65.30 858
6 63.63 58.78 - 63.63 817
7 55.81 61.44 55.31 61.44 764
8 58.48 60.81 60.81 750
9 60.50 59.93 56.37 60.50 743
10 49.23 59.86 58.46 59.86 729
11 45.40 57.49 49.91 57.49 677
12 56.69 54.20 57.45 57.45 676
13 50.74 55.74 50.64 55.74 641
14 48.39 50.94 52.61 52.61 578
15 51.74 51.74 561
16 51.15 51.15 549
17 50.38 50.66 50.55 50.66 540
18 50.40 45.66 50.20 50.40 536
19 48.60 48.09 - 48.60 503
20 47.33 46.74 - 47.33 480
21 42.57 42.81 44.71 44.71 434
22 38.99 42.62 43.36 43.36 411
23 38.44 38.44 330
- - - - - Retired

1500m

RankAthleteCountryTime Points
1 4:22.8 582
2 4:23.3 575
3 4:27.0 536
4 4:27.6 530
5 4:27.7 528
6 4:30.6 500
7 4:37.7 434
8 4:40.0 414
9 4:40.6 409
10 4:43.6 384
11 4:44.2 379
12 4:48.5 345
13 4:49.2 340
14 4:49.3 339
15 4:49.7 336
16 4:53.8 306
17 4:55.0 297
18 4:55.4 294
19 4:57.5 279
20 4:59.6 265
21 5:04.8 231
22 5:21.4 137
23 5:25.2 116

Final standings

The best scores in each event are highlighted in yellow. These scores were split between six competitors, with the gold medallist Rafer Johnson achieving the best result in the shot put by 104 points.

PosAthleteCountry100m
Long
jump
Shot
put
High
jump
400m110m
hurdles
Discus
throw
Pole
vault
Javelin
throw
1500mTotal
points
10.9
948
7.35
906
15.82
976
1.85
832
48.3
985
15.3
740
48.49
894
4.10
795
69.76
980
4:49.7
336
8392 (OR)
10.7
1034
7.46
950
13.33
703
1.90
900
48.1
1005
14.6
923
39.83
622
4.30
915
68.22
937
4:48.5
345
8334
11.1
870
6.96
773
14.46
817
1.75
711
50.2
828
15.0
813
50.52
972
3.90
695
71.20
1024
4:53.8
306
7809
4 11.4
768
6.93
764
13.97
767
1.80
770
51.1
765
15.6
673
45.63
795
4.20
855
71.44
1031
4:44.2
379
7567
5 11.3
800
7.21
856
13.76
746
1.80
770
51.1
765
14.9
840
44.31
753
3.80
645
57.49
677
4:43.6
384
7236
6 11.4
768
6.69
692
13.89
759
1.80
770
51.1
765
14.7
894
49.58
935
3.80
645
55.74
641
4:49.2
340
7195
7 11.5
737
6.93
764
14.55
827
1.75
711
50.5
807
15.9
612
44.93
773
3.60
556
60.50
743
4:22.8
582
7112
8 10.8
990
6.93
764
12.42
619
1.73
689
48.0
1015
16.9
443
40.12
630
3.70
596
60.81
750
4:27.0
536
7032
9 11.6
707
6.91
758
12.30
609
1.80
770
51.0
772
15.7
652
37.66
563
4.10
795
65.30
858
4:37.7
434
6918
10 11.4
768
6.79
722
12.03
584
1.85
832
50.5
807
16.1
575
37.69
564
3.90
695
63.63
817
4:27.6
530
6894
11 11.3
800
6.94
767
11.78
562
1.70
656
50.0
844
15.3
740
37.03
547
4.00
745
52.61
578
4:27.7
528
6767
12 11.1
870
6.94
767
14.96
872
1.83
806
51.8
716
15.6
673
37.94
571
3.50
516
59.86
729
5:04.8
231
6751
13 11.8
650
6.73
704
14.18
788
1.80
770
54.3
565
15.7
652
45.67
797
3.60
556
48.60
503
4:55.4
294
6283
14 11.8
650
6.93
764
13.58
728
1.75
711
51.8
716
16.2
657
39.50
612
3.30
438
57.45
676
4:40.6
409
6261
15 11.3
800
6.93
764
13.76
746
1.83
806
51.2
758
15.7
652
39.08
601
3.30
438
51.74
561
5:21.4
137
6206
16 11.3
800
13.68
738
1.83
806
49.5
884
16.0
593
39.18
603
3.70
596
47.33
480
4:30.6
500
6000
17 11.5
737
7.14
932
11.77
505
1.80
770
51.3
751
15.8
632
31.79
418
3.20
400
38.44
330
4:23.3
575
5950
18 11.5
737
6.62
672
11.44
535
1.75
711
50.5
807
15.5
694
34.28
477
3.30
438
44.71
434
4:40.0
414
5919
19 11.6
707
6.88
749
12.65
640
1.65
605
53.2
630
17.1
413
40.49
640
3.30
438
61.44
764
4:57.5
279
5865
20 11.1
870
6.81
728
13.42
712
1.75
711
54.1
576
16.9
443
40.77
648
3.20
400
51.15
549
5:25.2
116
5753
21 11.3
800
6.20
562
10.59
467
1.65
605
50.5
807
17.3
385
37.55
561
3.40
476
43.36
411
4:49.3
339
5413
22 12.0
597
5.92
493
13.32
648
1.70
656
53.0
642
18.4
250
37.35
555
3.60
556
50.40
536
4:59.6
265
5198
23 11.7
638
6.23
570
12.06
587
1.73
689
53.6
606
18.1
283
34.68
487
NM 50.66
540
4:55.0
297
4737
Did not finish
11.6
707
7.12
825
13.22
692
1.85
832
50.7
793
15.3
740
37.87
569
3.80
645
- - 5803
11.5
737
6.57
746
14.10
780
1.83
806
52.2
690
18.1
283
34.12
473
- - - 4515
11.6
707
6.87
746
11.35
528
1.90
900
52.0
702
16.4
523
- - - - 4106
11.2
834
6.93
764
13.10
681
1.70
656
53.9
588
-- - - - 3523
11.5
737
6.54
651
9.71
406
1.73
689
- -- - - - 2483
12.0
597
6.32
592
10.85
488
1.65
605
- -- - - - 2282
11.4
768
6.39
610
13.59
729
- - -- - - - 2107

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Athletics at the 1960 Rome Summer Games: Men's Decathlon . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417175447/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1960/ATH/mens-decathlon.html . dead . 17 April 2020 . 25 January 2018 . sports-reference.com.
  2. Web site: 1960 Olympic Decathlon: A Duel for the Ages | Sports then and Now. 6 December 2009.