Daley Thompson is a former English decathlon athlete who is considered to be the greatest decathlete of all time. A four times world record holder, Thompson won two Olympic gold medals, three Commonwealth titles, two European Championship titles, and a gold medal in World Championship. He also holds the record for being the first athlete to hold the European, Commonwealth, World and Olympics title in a single event simultaneously. He remained an undefeated champion of decathlon for nine years straight, from 1978 to 1987. And if this is any less, you may be surprised to know that his score of 8847 points at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles is a UK record till date. Thompson is one of the only two decathletes who have two Olympic victories in their bag, the other being Bob Mathias. During his glorious career, his rivalry with Jurgen Hingsen gained much public limelight. The duo constantly traded world records, one bettering the other. However, Thompson outdid Hingsen at major events every time. It was a persistent hamstring injury that brought an end to Thompson’s career. Nevertheless, he is still considered as the greatest athlete the country has produced.
