heptathlon

Heptathlon is a track and field combined events competition that consists of seven events. Performances in each event are converted into points using a standard scoring system, and the overall winner is the athlete with the most points after all events. The format tests speed, endurance, strength, and technique, as well as consistency across events.

In outdoor competition, the heptathlon is typically the women's event at major championships and is contested over two days. The seven events, in commonly used order, are: 100 metres hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 metres, long jump, javelin throw, and 800 metres. The corresponding men's multi-event in outdoor competition is the decathlon, which includes ten events; the two formats share a common philosophy but differ in their number and selection of events.

Indoor heptathlon exists as a two-day event in some men's competitions and is separate from the standard outdoor women's event. The indoor seven-event format typically includes: 60 metres, long jump, shot put, high jump, 60 metres hurdles, pole vault, and 1000 metres. Like the outdoor version, scores are calculated using a universal points table, allowing athletes with different strengths to accumulate comparable totals.

The sport originated as a longer form of decathlon and has been part of major championships, including the Olympic program for women since the 1980s. It emphasizes versatility across sprinting, jumping, throwing, and middle-distance running, and it remains a core discipline within the broader category of combined events in athletics.