Roman Šebrle
The first man to shatter the 9,000-point barrier in the decathlon, setting a superhuman standard that stood for over a decade.
Born 1974 (age 52)·Czech high jumper and decathlete·Birthday: November 26·Generation X
Biography
Roman Šebrle didn't just win the decathlon; he redefined its outer limits. A former high jumper from Lanškroun, Czechoslovakia, he brought a rare blend of springy elegance and raw endurance to the ten-event grind. His defining moment came in 2001 in Götzis, Austria, where he achieved what was once thought impossible: a score over 9,000 points. His 9,026-point world record wasn't just a number; it was a statement of comprehensive athletic dominance, breaking down a psychological barrier. He backed it up with Olympic gold in 2004 and silver in 2000, along with world championship titles. For eleven years, his record loomed over the sport, a testament to a career built on consistency and a fierce competitive spirit that made him the ultimate all-around athlete of his era.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Roman was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Roman Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Roman's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first decathlete in history to score over 9,000 points, setting a world record of 9,026 points in 2001.
- Won the Olympic gold medal in the decathlon at the 2004 Athens Games.
- Won the World Championship title in the decathlon in 2007 in Osaka.
Did You Know?
His world record of 9,026 points stood for 11 years, finally broken by American Ashton Eaton in 2012.
He was originally a talented high jumper, with a personal best of 2.15 meters (7 feet 0.6 inches).
He won the prestigious IAAF World Athlete of the Year award in 2004.
“I wanted to be the first over 9,000 points. It was my dream.”
