COBB COUNTY, Ga. — There’s a Georgia-born athlete at the top of her game. The only medal she’s missing in her sport is an Olympic medal, but unfortunately, because of the rules, she might never get it.
Jordan Gray boasts the highest decathlon score of any active woman in the sport, holds the American record, and ranks third globally, symbolizing the excellence and determination prevalent among female decathletes worldwide.
However, despite their skill and readiness to compete, they face a significant barrier: the absence of Women’s Decathlon in the Olympic lineup.
“When someone says you can’t do something. Well, why,” Jordan Gray said.
That’s why Gray created an online petition to change the rules and end gender discrimination in the Olympic games; it’s called Let Women Decathlon.
The Women’s Decathlon is not a foreign concept in athletics; it is well-established within esteemed sporting associations such as the USA Track & Field and the International Association of Athletics Federations.
Yet, the Olympics do not give female decathletes the opportunity to participate and relegate them to the heptathlon despite their excellence in the ten-event discipline.
The decathlon, a demanding test of athleticism, encompasses ten events spread across two days: the 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin, and 1500m.
“Women were also said to be incapable of running a marathon, voting, playing full-court basketball, owning property, pole vaulting, holding office, or running a mile,” Gray said online. "We’ve come so far, and yet we’re trying to clear another hurdle, even in 2021."
The infrastructure and talent required to include the Women’s Decathlon in the 2024 Olympics are readily available. A cohort of exceptional female decathletes eagerly awaits the chance to compete, with everything in place except for the IOC's approval, which rests in the hands of President Thomas Bach.
"Even if I never get to go to the Olympics. Even if this doesn’t go through in my career, even though I would love it to – I want it for the next generation," Jordan Gray said.
As the countdown to the 2024 Olympics continues, the call for equality in sports grows louder, with Jordan Gray and her supporters leading the charge for change. Including Women’s Decathlon in the Olympic Games isn't just about athletic competition; it's about dismantling barriers, challenging stereotypes, and paving the way for a more inclusive future in sports.
While viewers won't see Gray compete in the decathlon, she hopes to qualify for the heptathlon in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games.