How much rest do athletes get between events?
A · Advanced · The events and the points · 2 of 3Where possible, each athlete has at least 30 minutes between the end of one event and the start of the next. Where possible, there are at least 10 hours between the end of day one and the start of day two. The whole competition has to fit inside two consecutive 24-hour periods, or its total cannot be a record.
How it works
- Between events: "At the discretion of the Combined Events Referee, there shall, whenever possible, be an interval of at least 30 minutes between the time one event ends and the next event begins, for any individual athlete."
- How the 30 minutes is counted: the commentary counts it from the end of the last race or trial of one event, for any athlete, to the start of the first race or trial of the next.
- Overnight: "If possible, the time between the finish of the last event on the first day and the start of the first event on the second day should be at least 10 hours."
- Two days: the events are held on two consecutive 24-hour periods. The pentathlon is held on one day.
- Longer than that: the commentary says that if a competition is spread over a longer period than the rule allows, the points total cannot be ratified as a record.
- Who decides: the combined events referee.
Tricky cases
Is the 30 minutes guaranteed?
No. It applies "whenever possible", at the referee's discretion.
Rain delays day one so that only eight hours are left before day two starts. Is the competition void?
No. The 10 hours is what should be allowed "if possible". It is not a condition of the result.
A club holds a decathlon over three days. Do the totals count?
It depends on what for. The commentary says only that such a total cannot be ratified as a record.
Why the rule exists
The rest protects athletes from being sent from a 400 m straight to the next event. The limit of two days works the other way. Tiredness is part of the test, and a decathlon spread over a week would produce totals that could not fairly be compared with one done in two days.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 39.6 |
| Men's pentathlon | One day | TR 39.1 |
| Individual track events | Fixed minimum times between rounds, from 45 minutes | TR 20.10 |
| Exceptional weather | The technical delegates or referees may change the number of days in special cases | TR 39.6 commentary |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 39.1 to 39.6 with the commentary printed under rule 39.6. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).