Georg Werthner

Dr. Georg Werthner (born 7 April 1956) is an Austrian decathlete. He is notable for being the first athlete to finish four Olympic decathlons. In the 1988 Summer Olympics, Daley Thompson crossed the finish-line a little more than 18 seconds after him to become the second athlete to do this.

Born in Linz, Werthner was the Austrian national champion in the decathlon 8 times (1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1988), along with being individual event champion in long jump (1977), triple jump (1977, 1979, 1980, and 1982), javelin throw (1979-1981, 1983, 1984, and 1988).[1] Running with his ULC Linz club, he was a member of their 1980 and 1981 winning 4 × 100 metres relay team, and their 1980 4 × 400 metres relay team. He is now part of their hall of fame, still holding club records for high jump, pole vault, javelin throw, pentathlon and decathlon.[2] He switched to the Zehnkampf-Union decathlon club in 1984.

Werthner is still active in Masters athletics and has won numerous World Masters Athletics Championships.[3][4]

Achievements

Year Tournament Venue Result Distance
1975 World Student GamesRome, Italy5th Decathlon
1976 Olympic GamesMontreal, Canada16th Decathlon
1979 World Student GamesMexico City, Mexico6th Decathlon
1980 Olympic GamesMoscow, Soviet Union4th Decathlon
1981 World Student GamesBucharest, Romania3rd Decathlon
1982 European ChampionshipsAthens, Greece5th Decathlon
1983 World Student GamesEdmonton, Canada3rd Decathlon
1984 Olympic GamesLos Angeles, United States 9th Decathlon
1988 Olympic GamesSeoul, South Korea21st Decathlon

References