“One day, I’m going to have to meet Daley, shake his hand and thank him for giving me something to chase after”, said Eaton, who ruled the grueling 10-event track and field competition.
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“It makes me cry to think about it because he’s been on this journey for such a long time and Ashton and Brianne are such great kids”, said Cindy Marra, Harry’s sister-in-law.
The Japanese men’s 4×100-meter sprint squad progressed to the final at the Rio Olympics with the second-fastest qualifying time Thursday, a feat remarkable in itself, but made even more awesome by beating Jamaica in the process.
In doing so, Eaton became the first man to claim successive decathlon golds since Thompson of Great Britain – the champion in 1980 and 1984. Concentrating on not messing that up for Bolt, a Jamaica team led by Asafa Powell got into the final in an important moment for the big man’s legacy. Ashton Eaton repeating as Olympic decathlon champion and tying the Olympic record with 8,893 points.
So when Kerron Clement was running the 400-meter hurdles final as the decathletes were competing in the discus throw, he couldn’t hold himself back when his roommate took gold and crumbled to the ground in exhaustion.
Bolt’s win came on a day when US athletes snapped up four more golds with wins in decathlon, men’s and women’s 400-meter hurdles and shot put.
A Ralph Lauren spokesman said Thursday, “We are working closely with the USOC on the developments in Rio and are reviewing the situation”.
The crowd at a near-full Olympic Stadium was constantly reminded of that, as a series of medal ceremonies started with the words: “O say can you see”.
Denmark’s Sara Petersen won the silver medal ahead of Ashley Spencer of the United States. The U.S. won 29 medals, including nine golds, in London.
For a few short moments, the USA women’s 4×100 relay team was a little like Bolt: They were the only ones everyone was looking at.
Leading off, Bartoletta nestled into the starting blocks in lane 2 for the team’s re-run – against the clock only – after they fumbled the baton in their original qualifier.
Look how spent Eaton looked as he crossed the finish line, securing his second straight gold in the event.
And even if it’s true that the decathlon requires traits of self-centered focus, Eaton remains a U.S. Olympic team member first and foremost.
When a Canadian, Damian Warner took the lead in the opening 100 on Wednesday, Eaton immediately responded by taking the lead on the second event. Semenya, another compelling story at these games but for different reasons to Bolt, will run in the 800 final on Saturday.
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I’m postponing writing about the “GOAT” Usain Bolt until he finishes in Rio with the 4×100 tonight.
