Why are ten gold medals called decathlon?

Answer 1

It could be because there are 10 so it is a 'dec'ade just like 'dec'athlon. So it could just have to with it being 10.

Decathlon is a combined event, meaning the competition is about the athlete's performance comparatively across ten events (against a scoring table--a formula for assessing points to a performance). But there is only one gold medal for winning. A decathlete could win all ten events in the decathlon competition, against other decathletes, but not be good enough in any one single event to medal against specialists. The challenge is versatility, to be fast enough to excel in a 100, 400, 110 Hurdles and Long Jump, but to still be strong enough to throw a shot put, discus and javelin, additionally be able to high jump, skilled enough to pole vault and have sufficient endurance to do a 1500, all within about a 30 hour period of time. Five events on one day, with a half hour of rest in between and five events the second day.