Sander Skotheim won the men’s decathlon title at the Decastar 2026

The 50th-anniversary edition of the prestigious Décastar meeting in Talence, France, delivered one of the most thrilling and tightly contested men’s decathlon battles in recent multi-event history. Held on September 18–19, 2026, at the iconic Stade Pierre Paul Bernard, this milestone event acted as the dramatic grand finale of the World Athletics Combined Events Tour Gold series. Under a brand-new night-session format introduced to celebrate a half-century of athletic history, the world’s premier multi-event athletes assembled in Talence for one final showdown of the grueling season.

When the dust finally settled after ten demanding disciplines, Norway’s Sander Skotheim emerged victorious, mounting a spectacular second-day comeback to secure the title. He narrowly edged out overnight leader Hakim McMorris of the United States and local French favorite Makenson Gletty in a podium race that was decided by the slimmest of margins.

The decathlon exploded into life on Friday, September 18, with spectacular conditions lighting up the track and field. The opening 100 meters set a blistering tone, where Hakim McMorris laid down an early marker, clocking a roaring wind-assisted time of 10.55 seconds to share the fastest time of the day with Switzerland’s Nino Portmann. Close behind were Canada’s Pierce LePage (10.61s), the Netherlands’ Sven Roosen (10.62s), and Olympic legend Damian Warner (10.62s).

As the afternoon moved into a historic night session under the newly installed floodlights, McMorris continued to capitalize on his momentum. The American athlete excelled across the shot put, long jump, and high jump to keep his nose ahead of a fiercely competitive field. France’s Makenson Gletty, cheered on by an enthusiastic partisan crowd, kept himself firmly in the hunt by delivering strong numbers, including a stellar 10.61-second dash in his 100-meter heat.

Sander Skotheim, meanwhile, quietly executed a calculated first day. The talented 24-year-old Norwegian showed remarkable consistency, clocking 10.69 seconds in the 100 meters and concluding his opening day with a brilliant 47.78 seconds in the 400-meter sprint. At the end of the grueling five-event opening stretch, McMorris held the coveted overnight lead, with Gletty sitting comfortably in second and Skotheim lurking dangerously in third place.

Historically known as a meeting designed for multi-event redemption, Talence once again lived up to its reputation on Saturday, September 19. Skotheim entered the final five disciplines knowing he had a deficit to overturn against the red-hot McMorris.

The second day tested the athletes’ endurance across the 110-meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, and javelin. While McMorris fought valiantly to guard his top position, Skotheim began chipping away at the American’s lead. Known for his exceptional technical versatility, the Norwegian piled on heavy points in the high-scoring technical events.

By the time the athletes lined up for the final event—the dreaded 1500 meters—the math promised a grandstand finish. Digging deep into his reserves, Skotheim unleashed a phenomenal tactical run to cross the line and register a final total of 8,630 points. It marked his absolute best decathlon performance of the 2026 calendar year, earning him the gold medal.

McMorris crossed the line just out of reach of the overall victory but was rewarded with a phenomenal lifetime achievement. Scoring 8,599 points, the American claimed the silver medal while setting a magnificent new personal best (PB). He finished a mere 31 points shy of Skotheim’s championship mark, demonstrating the sheer quality of the competition.

While the battle for the crown gripped the stadium, the duel for the final spot on the podium proved even more agonizingly close. France’s Makenson Gletty showed remarkable resilience to maintain his positioning. Gletty finished the weekend with a score of 8,381 points, safely locking in the bronze medal.

Remarkably, his podium finish was preserved by the absolute narrowest margin imaginable. Harrison Williams of the United States put on a heroic late charge on Day 2, racking up 8,380 points. Gletty held off Williams by exactly one single point to give the home fans a momentous celebration at the Stade Pierre Paul Bernard.

The 2026 men’s decathlon will be remembered as a true testament to the spirit of the Décastar tournament. Accompanied by a spectacular drone show by Dronisos and evening festivities to celebrate 50 years, the competitive display on the track honored the rich lineage of past world-record setters in Talence, like Kevin Mayer. Sander Skotheim’s masterclass in grit, combined with McMorris’s breakthrough performance, provided an unforgettable conclusion to the World Athletics Combined Events Tour.

Final Standings in men’s decathlon at the Decastar 2026
1. Sander Skotheim (NOR) – 8,630 pts
2. Hakim McMorris (USA) – 8,599 pts (PB)
3. Makenson Gletty (FRA) – 8,381 pts
4. Harrison Williams (USA) – 8,380 pts
5. Jeff Tesselaar (NED) – 8,355 pts