Trends of the Performance Development in Combined Events

Title: Trends in performance development in combined events. Objectives: The aim of this work was to investigate trends of the performance development in combined events during 2005-2014 based on results of top level competitions and interindividual variability of the point structure of individual combined events athletes. Methods: In this work we used the method of comparison and analysis of the performance development in combined events. Results: The trend of the performance in combined events did not change. Combined events are dominated by athletes with excellent sprint-jumping performances without significant weaknesses in throwing disciplines. The evenness of women opponents is more evident than among men. Slight progression in men's decathlon ocurred in the years 2012-2014 because of the high scores of Ashton Eaton's winning performances. Carolina Klüft dominated women heptathlon in the years 2005-2007, but the average score among heptathletes did not increase. In indoor pentathlon, the development was slightly progressive until 2012. Average scores of pentathletes were similar to the winning performances showing high evenness of opponents. Point structures of five selected male and female athletes (of top performance level) in the observed time period show understandable differences from..