The inaugural Women’s Decathlon World Championships is set to make history this summer as it champions gender equality in the sport. Organized by American decathlete Lauren Kuntz, the event will be held at the SPIRE Academy on August 3rd and 4th, coinciding with the Men’s Olympic Decathlon in Paris, where women are still barred from competing. The unprecedented event will bring women from numerous countries together to compete for the coveted title of “World’s Greatest Athlete.”

At the Olympic level, the Decathlon, a 10 event track and field discipline which includes running, jumping and throwing events, is an all male competition. Women are restricted to the 7 event alternative, the Heptathlon. Refusing to wait for inclusion, pioneering female decathletes are taking the initiative to organize their own World Championships.

The event will welcome more than 30 elite athletes from 12 countries including renown Decathlon stars – Ireland’s Lara O’Byrne, Switzerland’s Ariana Brügger, France’s Adeline Audigier and USA’s Decathlon veterans Katie Straus and Jordyn Bruce, last year’s US National Champion and Runner Up respectively. Known for their world class facilities – SPIRE is ready to welcome these elite athletes and support their needs, whether it be training, recovering, refueling or resting.

“My goal is to one day see a young woman crowned Olympic Champion in the Decathlon,” says Lauren Kuntz, founder of Ico For All. “This is one step along that path, but the fight is not over. I want to ensure every young athlete, regardless of gender, knows they can excel and be celebrated for whatever they put their mind to.”

In addition to the main decathlon event, there will also be an Icosathlon (or double decathlon) competition, a 20 event track and field discipline, as part of the Ico For All Championships open to all genders, ages and abilities to run, jump and throw. Interested participants can register using the following link.

Tickets for the event are free and open to the public, with a complimentary livestream also available, ensuring that fans from around the world can witness this historic competition. For more information about the Women’s Decathlon World Championships, including participation, sponsorship, event details and livestream please visit www.womens-decathlon.com.