Decathlon’s “Ten-Event War”: Wilson Quaik’s PB-to-PB Pursuit of the 7,030-Point National Record at SEA Games 2025
For Decathlete Wilson Quaik Zhen Han, the SEA Games in Bangkok is a two-day strategic battle where consistency is the ultimate weapon. Wilson, whose current best stands at 6,690 points, is focused on securing Personal Bests (PBs) across all events to close the 340-point gap to the 7,030-point National Record.
Wilson rejects the idea of only focusing on scoring big in his strongest events. He emphasized that every single jump, throw, and run is vital: “I cannot focus on just two or three events, because the decathlon is a cumulative score that determines the winner. This time, I will still do my very best in all 10 events, aiming for a PB in every single one.”
Mental Principles for the Two-Day War
Wilson relies on three core principles to handle the psychological pressure, particularly when an early event does not go to plan, referencing the spirit that helped him complete the 1,500m with an injury in 2023.
- “The score is cumulative; it is not decided by one event.”
- “The more mistakes I make, the more I must find my rhythm, instead of being led by my emotions.”
- “No matter how tired or hard it is, my job is to finish this two-day war.”
Recovery and preparation are compartmentalised into distinct phases. After the explosive power events of Day 1, he intentionally switches off: “After the first day, I switch off my ‘power mode’ to let my body quickly enter ‘recovery mode.’ The next morning, I reset myself into ‘sport mode’ to prepare for the remaining events.”
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Risks and Stability
While he views every event as a major scoring opportunity, Wilson acknowledged two major risk events that have previously cost him significant points due to cramping: the Pole Vault and the 1,500m.
When facing regional rivals, Wilson maintains an entirely self-focused approach. “I only compete against myself, not with others,” he affirmed. “If I only chase others’ strengths, I will forever be dragged along by their rhythm. But if I continuously raise all 10 of my events just slightly, I will become the most stable person, the hardest person to defeat.”
Wilson concludes that while he observes his opponents’ data, his ultimate goal remains his own Personal Best, ensuring that stability, not high-risk wins, defines his performance.
