Un Moment Magique

Kevin Mayer

Smashes the Decathlon World Record

New Standard: 9126

copyright 2018, Mark Cullen/Trackerati.com. All Rights Reserved

Kevin Mayer after the long jump on Saturday.
He set a 7.80 (25-7.25) PB en route to his new world record
after fouling out of the event in the European Championships in August.
photo credit: Getty Images/IAAF

Kevin Mayer set a new decathlon world record of 9126 in Talence, France, today. He broke Ashton Eaton's 9045 - set in winning the 2015 Beijing World title - by 81 points. Mayer did so at the Decastar IAAF Combined Events Challenge in front of an enthusiastic and appreciative home-country crowd.

Mayer rode personal bests in 4 events - the 100m, pole vault, long jump, and javelin - to the record. In addition, he had set personal bests in the 110m hurdles, shot put, and discus earlier in the summer, and was a heavy favorite to win the European title until he fouled three times in the long jump. For the long jump to have been key to his world record was sweet revenge.

Indeed, his European Championships experience fueled his decision to compete in Talence, and his win and world record virtually assure him of a #1 world ranking this year.

He celebrated with a backflip in front of ecstatic French fans on his way to the imaginatively constructed podium, one which had room for every one of the competitors. Mayer was thoughtful and articulate in his comments to the thrilled crowd, and generous in his thanks to his family, competitors, meet officials, and spectators.

Then "Le Marseillaise" was played and the enormity of his accomplishment washed over him.

Together with Eliud Kipchoge's marathon world record this morning, this is one of the most memorable days in track and field history. 

World records in the marathon and decathlon, two signature events of the sport.

The stadium announcer aptly called Mayer's achievement "Un Moment Magique".

On this day - remarkably - it's deux.