Deep in the second day of the decathlon, a rare hint of vulnerability from Ashton Eaton gave his rivals an unlikely glimmer of hope.
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American star Eaton, who retained his decathlon crown in Rio, and his Canadian heptathlon bronze medallist wife, married in 2013. The world champion finished third in the final event, the 1,500 meters, to win gold from France’s Kevin Mayer on 8,834 points.
“I am proud to be part of the decathlon family”, Eaton said. “Getting ready for this”. “When a foreign object comes in front of you, it’s going to mess up your momentum and the handover”.
The decathlon takes two days, four separate competitive sessions and 10 events.
If there was any further doubt about his mettle, the javelin throw did away with that, too.
An Olympic race with only one competitor. The 28-year-old American finished with 8,893 points to match the Olympic mark set by Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic in 2004.
“It’s such an awesome moment to be able to share with everyone”, the 28-year-old from Cardiff, Wales, said. His inability to produce a record on demand showed he is merely human.
But Eaton moved past Mayer with 200 metres of the 1500m to go to make sure of the win.
“To be so close to a world-record holder, a man so gentle and humble, that already was exceptional”, Mayer said.
Against Yoshida, a three-time Olympic champion and 13-time world champion, Maroulis was almost ideal.
Eaton, 28, has dominated the challenging event throughout the decade, and led nearly start to finish in the two-day competition on Wednesday and Thursday.
“The decathlon is never an easy walk-through”, Eaton said.
The unstoppable US track team might feel the same after collecting six more medals Thursday for a total of 24. After ranking 10th in the shot put and 14th in the high jump, he wrapped up his busy day by winning the 400-meter race.
He ran over onto the track and put his hands on Clement’s back with heartfelt congratulations.
“He said he was very happy and he was telling me about how all of the people of Jordan are very happy and are even shedding tears of happiness for me”.
The best Eaton could do was that improbable tie.
Sometimes it can turn against him.
“I am trying to be one of the greatest”.
“Maybe I come back to Turkey with a medal, maybe my mother will say “My son is incredible”, – Yasmani Copello just wanted to please his mum, and he took home bronze in the men’s 400m hurdles. Despite holding a 12-10 lead late in the final set, the US allowed Serbia to go on a 5-1 run to close out the match and earn the victory.
Taking bronze was New Zealand’s Tomas Walsh, that nation’s first medalist in the men’s shot put. We’re going to process that some, we get some time to grieve.
Kerron Clement picked up on Thursday where the United States left off on the sultry evening before – hauling in more gold. Eaton took third overall, running 4:23.33, and clinching his second Olympic gold medal in the process.
Eaton has now won successive Olympic and world titles to confirm his status at the best all-around athlete in the world. Mathias is the other decathlete to defend an Olympic title.
Two Olympic legends cemented their legacies on Thursday in Rio.
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Eaton carried a lead into Thursday’s second half of the event, which featured the 110m hurdles (2nd), discus (8th), pole vault (3rd), javelin (18th) and 1500m (4th).
