Tom Pappas

Tom Pappas (born September 6, 1976) is an 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 (2000, 2002, 2003, 2006) and was the 1999 NCAA champion while attending the University of Tennessee. 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, signifying he was 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 (track and field) 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.