While the global track and field community begins looking ahead to regional showdowns such as the Asian Games following a gruelling summer, the combined events circuit is preparing for one final spectacular curtain call.
After the emotional and physical demands of an Olympic year, the world’s elite multi-event athletes are returning for one last major test. The historic 50th-anniversary edition of Décastar takes centre stage in Talence on Friday and Saturday as the season finale of the World Athletics Combined Events Tour Gold.
The meeting brings together a field featuring Olympic and world champions across the heptathlon and decathlon.
Nafissatou Thiam Headlines Women’s Heptathlon
Belgium’s legendary Nafissatou Thiam headlines the women’s competition as she prepares for her first full heptathlon of the season.
After selective event testing in Ratingen and a high jump appearance at the Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels, the three-time Olympic champion is ready to build on her brilliant 6880-point performance that secured gold in Paris.
Thiam, however, will face strong competition.
Her compatriot Noor Vidts, the reigning two-time world indoor pentathlon champion, will line up after winning Olympic bronze alongside Thiam in Paris.
The field also includes athletes who have broken the 6300-point barrier this year.
They include Germany’s Vanessa Grimm, Lithuania’s Beatričė Juškevičiūtė, and USA’s Erin Marsh.
Great Britain’s Niamh Emerson will continue her inspiring comeback from injury. She will compete alongside compatriot Ellen Barber, Sweden’s Lovisa Karlsson, and Germany’s Anna-Elisabeth Ehlers.
Markus Rooth Returns for Men’s Decathlon
In the men’s competition, Norway’s Markus Rooth makes his eagerly anticipated return.
Rooth will contest his first decathlon since his stunning gold-medal triumph at the Paris Olympics. The 24-year-old scored 8796 points to claim the Olympic title.
He now returns to Talence for the first time since 2022.
Rooth will be joined by the past two Olympic champions, including Canadian record-holder Damian Warner.
The 2021 Olympic gold medallist is competing in his third decathlon of the season. Warner, who has won four World Championship medals, scored 8497 points in Götzis and secured silver at the Commonwealth Games.
Olympic Champions Lead Deep Decathlon Field
The battle for the top step of the podium promises to be fiercely contested.
Warner’s compatriot Pierce LePage and Rooth’s compatriot Sander Skotheim, the 2025 world indoor heptathlon champion, will also compete.
The deep field features Dutch standout Sven Roosen, who finished fourth at the Olympics and fifth in Götzis.
A resurgent Jeff Tesselaar will also line up, alongside Estonia’s Karel Tilga and France’s Makenson Gletty.
The United States will be represented by Harrison Williams, Hakim McMorris, and Devon Williams.
With Olympic champions, world medallists and emerging multi-event stars assembled in Talence, the 50th anniversary of Décastar promises a fitting finale to the World Athletics Combined Events Tour Gold season.