Decathlon, Men

Two-time defending champion Daley Thompson was back, but was no longer the favorite. In 1987 he finished ninth at the World Championships, his first loss since 1978. He was also injured in 1988, but managed to compete at Seoul. With his form down, West Germany’s Jürgen Hingsen, a three-time world record holder, but Alydar to Thompson’s Affirmed, was thought to have a chance to win his first major international championship. In the first event, the 100 metres, that possibility ended when Hingsen false started three times! He was disqualified from the 100, and withdrew, his chance of winning gone. Thompson, a top sprinter, won the 100. But the lead after day one went to East German Christian Schenk. France’s Christian Plaziat moved ahead after the 110 hurdles, but Schenk placed second in the discus and took the lead for good after that event. He won the gold medal by 89 points over his teammate Torsten Voss, with Canadian Dave Steen winning the bronze medal. Daley Thompson placed fourth, ending his Olympic and decathlon career.