Tom Pappas


Tom Pappas is a retired American decathlete.

Early life

Pappas was born in Azalea, Oregon. He graduated from Glendale High School in 1994, and from the University of Tennessee in 1999.

Career

Pappas is a four-time U.S. champion and was the 1999 NCAA champion while attending the University of Tennessee. Before his time at Tennessee, Pappas also competed in the Northwest Athletic Conference for the Lane Titans track and field team. He won the gold medal at the 2003 World Championships and was rated number 1 in the world that year by Track & Field News. His personal best in the decathlon is 8,784 points while winning the 2003 US Championships held at Stanford University.
He won the 2003 Jesse Owens Award from USATF, an award given to the Athlete of the Year.
Pappas finished fifth at the 2000 Olympic decathlon. He placed third in the decathlon at the 2008 United States Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, but was unable to complete the decathlon in Beijing due to a plantar fasciitis injury.

Post-career

Pappas is the co-owner of Lane 5 Crossfit in Eugene, Oregon.

Achievements

Personal bests

Outdoor
EventPerformanceLocationDate
Long jumpIndianapolisJuly 7, 2000
High jumpKnoxvilleApril 10, 2004
100 meters10.5IndianapolisJuly 7, 2000
100 meters10.63 KnoxvilleApril 25, 2004
100 meters10.90 ColumbiaApril 13, 2006
400 meters48.22KnoxvilleMay 1, 1999
110 meters hurdles13.7IndianapolisJuly 7, 2000
110 meters hurdles13.94 Athens, GAMay 15, 1999
Pole vaultIndianapolisJuly 7, 2000
Discus throwEl PasoApril 12, 2008
Javelin throwKnoxvilleApril 15, 2000

Indoor
EventPerformanceLocationDate
800 meters2:02.94Manhattan, KSFebruary 15, 2007
Mile5:03.53New HavenJanuary 13, 2007
55 meters hurdles7.27KnoxvilleFebruary 21, 2003
60 meters hurdles7.92BlacksburgJanuary 16, 1999
Long jumpGainesvilleFebruary 20, 1999
High jumpBlacksburgFebruary 6, 1999
Pole vaultLexingtonFebruary 7, 2003
Shot putManhattan, KSJanuary 18, 2008