When the World Athletics Indoor Championships get underway in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland, on March 20, be sure to tune in to the men’s seven-event heptathlon and the women’s five-event pentathlon.
The move indoors means there are fewer events compared to the men’s decathlon (10 events) and women’s heptathlon held at outdoor events like the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last fall and the Olympics, but these events deserve the spotlight — and not just for the incredible athleticism.
The real lessons these events offer have less to do with medals and extend far beyond winning and losing. Instead, this sport setting provides an opportunity to reimagine how we develop athletes. What if the blueprint for building better athletes isn’t about doing multiple sports, but instead about doing multiple events?
