American male decathletes have enjoyed tremendous success over the course of the past century, winning 10 Olympic medals and setting 22 world decathlon records. From Dennis Adama, a world-class high jumper while at Indiana State University, to Matt Zuber, who won 8 out of his 41 career decathlons, this work summarizes the career records of 319 of the most important American decathletes of the 20th Century, including Jim Thorpe, Dan O' Brien, Bob Mathias, Rafer Johnson, and Bruce Jenner. Among these athletes are all Olympians, international team members, national and collegiate champions, and members of the United States National team. Each entry describes the individual athlete's accomplishments and provides a statistical record of his entire decathlon career. A section on decathlon coaches and a comprehensive list of all world and United States decathlon rankings are provided.

American Decathletes: A 20th Century Who's Who

Sports & Outdoors

Zarnowski, Frank

Individual Sports

McFarland Publishing

Biographies & Memoirs

McFarland Company

The pentathlon, comprising competition in the discus, javelin, long jump, sprint, and wrestling, was hailed as the ultimate test of athletic versatility and remained a staple of the ancient Greek Olympic Games, Crown Games and Pan-Hellenic festivals for 1,200 years. Still, there is little scholarly consensus over many major aspects of the event. This detailed exploration of the ancient pentathlon explores the nature of the spectacle, the method of determining a victor, the five sub-events of which the pentathlon is composed, and the order in which they occurred. It also chronicles the history of the event and its champions, the recognition of ancient pentathletes, and considers the event's 18-year modern Olympic history and its influence on its contemporary counterpart, the decathlon. A record book and glossary complete this fresh look at one of the ancient world's most renowned sporting competitions.

The Pentathlon of the Ancient World

History

Americas

McFarland

For more than a century the American farm, factory and frontier provided opportunities for physical workers to display their skill, win a bet, brag or perhaps just have some fun. Competitions that emphasized useful skills, like plowing, corn-husking, rock drilling, typesetting, and tree cutting, were common in the antebellum and post-Civil War periods, often drawing large crowds and the attention of sporting journals. For many years conventional American sports occurred in the workplace. This may help explain why the nicknames of so many prominent collegiate or professional sporting teams--Cornhuskers, Lumberjacks, Miners, Cowboys, Packers and Boilermakers--are also the occupations of 19th century worker-athletes. By examining the American experience with competitions among workers, this book provides a new understanding of the interrelated nature of occupation and leisure.

American Work-Sports: A History of Competitions for Cornhuskers, Lumberjacks, Firemen and Others

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Crafts & Hobbies

The All-Around was a one-day, ten-event track and field contest of endurance, speed, and strength that was the forerunner to the modern decathlon. Its heyday stretched from the American Civil War to World War I during which its champions were generally well known and highly esteemed figures. After the decathlon was introduced in the 1912 Olympic Games, however, the All-Around was soon forced into the background. The event vanished early in the 20th century before it made a brief comeback after World War II, creating an athletic subculture for dozens of athletes who kept it alive until its final demise in 1977. The careers of these early amateurs are highlighted in biographical sketches of the 22 greatest All-Around men. The book covers the great touring professional Highlander athletes, Donald Dinnie and Princeton's George Goldie, whose careers did much to popularize multi-event contests from the 1860s to the 1880s. Zarnowski also profiles Malcolm Ford, Hollywood cowboy Fred C. Thomson, Avery Brundage (later president of the International Olympic Committee), and the legendary Jim Thorpe. The story of the post-WWII All-Arounder, Bob Richards the "Vaulting Vicar" of Wheaties fame, is also included. The lives and careers of these men - as well as the event itself - are finally given the treatment they deserve in this richly detailed book, which includes more than 20 photos. It will hold great appeal to sports historians, 19th century historians, and the fans, athletes, and coaches of modern day track and field.

All-Around Men: Heroes of a Forgotten Sport

Historical

Scarecrow Press

Zarnowski, the world's foremost authority on the event, has written a colourful and comprehensive account of the decathlon. The book traces the heritage of the decathlon and includes the results of the 1988 Summer Games. The book also includes profiles of 22 of the greatest decathletes.

The Decathlon: A Colorful History of Track and Field's Most Challenging Event

Other Team Sports

Leisure Pr

The Decathlon

A century of sports at the Mount

Available from College Bookstore, Mount Saint Mary's College

Written by Frank Zarnowski, Ph.D., the world's foremost authority on the decathlon, this book is packed with practical information, presented in Dr. Zarnowski's engaging, easy-to-understand style. A Basic Guide To Decathlon discusses the history of decathlon, how to get started, the fundamentals of training, and how to get and keep fit. Find out why the champion or world record holder in this sport is referred to as "World's Greatest Athlete."

A Basic Guide to Decathlon (An Official U.S. Olympic Committee Sports Series)

Miscellaneous

Griffin Pub Group

Olympic Glory Denied is a biographical profile of eleven of the 'World's Greatest Athletes', all of whom, for reasons beyond their control, never reached the Olympic starting line. This book features portraits of great track athletes like Fait Elkins, Charley Hoff and Heino Lipp. For the most part they are forgotten ghosts of yesteryear, never able to take claim of the mantle, Olympic decathlon champion. Only one name is recognisable to most readers, that of current world record holder Dan O'Brien. In 1992 O'Brien failed to make the US Olympic team. But unlike his ten predecessors, O'Brien had another opportunity -- a second chance in Atlanta 1996.

Olympic Glory Denied: A Final Opportunity for Glory Restored

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Books by Zarnowski, Frank