Ashton Eaton
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Full name | Ashton James Eaton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | [1] Portland, Oregon, U.S.[1] | January 21, 1988||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 180 lb (82 kg)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Track and field | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | Decathlon, heptathlon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club | Oregon Track Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coached by | Harry Marra | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal best(s) | Decathlon: 9,045 Heptathlon: 6,645 (WR) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Ashton James Eaton (born January 21, 1988) is a retired American
He competed for the
Eaton announced his retirement from the sport on January 3, 2017.[4][5]
Personal life
Eaton was born in Portland, Oregon, on January 21, 1988,[6] the only child of Roslyn Eaton and Terrance Wilson.[7] His father is Black and his mother is Caucasian.[8]
His maternal grandfather, Jim Eaton, played football at Michigan State University, and his father also played the sport. His mother was an athlete and a dancer.[9] He has three paternal siblings, including Verice Bennett, a first sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, who received the Silver Star in December 2011 for serving with valor in Afghanistan.
Eaton's parents separated when he was two years old. His mother, Roslyn, moved to
Eaton married his University of Oregon teammate, Canadian multi-event athlete Brianne Theisen, on July 15, 2013, one year after both competed in the London Olympics.[11] The two first met in 2006 during Eaton's freshman year at Oregon and fell in love at the 2007 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, held in Brazil: Theisen won the gold medal for Canada and then followed Eaton to enroll at the University of Oregon.[12] Since retirement Ashton and Brianne have explored moving from Eugene to San Francisco.[13]
Collegiate career
Eaton was initially coached at Oregon by Dan Steele, the associate director of track and a former decathlete. Under Steele, Eaton rapidly improved in the 1500 m, high jump, hurdles, and pole vault. He improved his pole vault by nearly 4 feet (1.2 m) in one year, and reached 8,000 points by his sixth collegiate decathlon. After Steele left in 2010 to coach at the University of Northern Iowa, the university hired decathlon coach Harry Marra (who had trained Olympic decathletes Dan O'Brien and Dave Johnson) to further develop Eaton's skills.[6]
In his first year as an Oregon Duck 2006–07, he was one of only three freshmen nationwide to qualify provisionally for NCAAs in the combined events, both indoors and outdoors. Finished second in Pac-10 Championships decathlon with a season-best 7,123 points in only his second career decathlon. He then placed third at the USA Junior Championships decathlon (7,155 points) and second in the long jump (24-0.25), the latter of which earned him a trip to Brazil for the 2007 Pan American Junior Championships.[14]
In 2008, Eaton won the decathlon at the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship.[15]
In 2009, Eaton defended his decathlon title at the NCAA Championships to win with 8,241 points.[16] He also won the heptathlon title at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championships with 5,988 points. Eaton won the Division I field athlete of the year award in 2009.[17]
At the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships, Eaton broke the heptathlon world record with a score of 6,499, eclipsing Dan O'Brien's 17-year-old mark by 23 points. In June 2010, he won his third consecutive NCAA decathlon title by finishing first in the decathlon with a personal best of 8,457 points.[18] He was the first male athlete to win 3 consecutive titles in the decathlon. In 2010, Eaton won The Bowerman, given annually to the best male and female U.S. collegiate track and field athletes.[19] Eaton graduated from the University of Oregon the same year.[6]
International career
2008–2009
At the
At the 2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Eaton placed second in the decathlon behind Trey Hardee with 8,075 points. This earned him a place at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, in Berlin, where he finished 18th with 8,061 points.[21][22]
2011–2012
Eaton improved his own world record in the indoor heptathlon at the International Indoor Combined Events Meeting in Tallinn in February 2011. Despite under-performing in the high jump he managed a score of 6568 points.[23]
In August 2011, at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics, Eaton won the silver medal in the decathlon competition with a final points tally of 8505, losing first place to his compatriot Trey Hardee.[24]
In March 2012, at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships held in Istanbul, Eaton won the gold medal in the heptathlon competition with a new world record 6645, winning five events (60 m, 60 m hurdles, long jump, pole vault and 1000 m) out of seven and finished third for the rest (high jump and shot put). His stand-out events were the Long Jump (scoring 1,102 points with a jump of 8.16m/26' 9-1/4") and the final event, the 1,000 m run, where he set a Championship record of 2:32.78 (only one-tenth of a second off his personal best time). He defeated silver medal winner Oleksiy Kasyanov by 574 points (6071).
Heptathlon | 6645 pts | Ashton Eaton | March 9–10, 2012 | 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | |||||||||||||||
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2012 Summer Olympics
Trials
At the
Olympics
At the 2012 Olympics, Eaton's primary rival was (now) teammate Trey Hardee. Eaton's 10.35 100 m was the top time of the day, with Hardee the next best. His 8.03 long jump was almost half a metre farther than any other competitor, building him a sizeable lead. His 14.66 shot put was just 12 cm short of his personal record. And his 2.05 high jump tied with several members of the field for second best. In the final first day event his 46.90 400 metres was over a full second faster than anybody else in the field. His first day total was 4661, with a 220-point lead over Hardee.
Day two started with a virtual tie between Hardee and Eaton, Eaton getting 13.56 in the 110m hurdles. Eaton's discus throw of 42.53 gave up almost 6 metres and 120 points to Hardee, but by that point Eaton still had a 100-point lead. Eaton more than gained that back with a 5.20 pole vault, the third best competition. In the javelin throw Hardee pulled back 70 points with a good throw, but this advantage was limited by Eaton setting a new personal best of 61.96. With Eaton holding a 150+ point lead and a superior personal record in the 1500 m over Hardee, the medals were already determined. Nobody made a serious run at improving his position, and Eaton just went through the formality of completing the event in 4:33.59 to take the gold medal.
2013 World Championships
Eaton won the 2013 world title in the decathlon with an 8809-point performance in Moscow.
2014 World Indoor Championships
In a February 2014 interview with Track & Field News (Vol. 67, no. 3), Eaton - and his coach Harry Marra - said 2014 would be a "rest" year, with no decathlon competitions. His only multi-event would be the heptathlon at World Indoors, which he entered having broken the world record in his last 3 consecutive indoor competitions. Eaton won the gold medal in the Heptathlon at the
Eaton told Track & Field News that during the 2014 outdoor season he planned to run some 400 m hurdles races for the first time in his career, as means of "doing something fun" while building his stamina for the 400 and 1,500 in future decathlon competitions. He also hoped to compete in some (world class)
2015 World Championships
Eaton won the 2015 world title in the decathlon improving his own world record with a 9045-point performance in Beijing.
Decathlon | 9045 pts | Ashton Eaton | August 28–29, 2015 | 2015 World Championships in Athletics | Beijing , China
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Major competition record
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing the United States | ||||||
2009 | World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 18th | Decathlon | 8061 | |
2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 2nd | Decathlon | 8505 | |
2012 | World Indoor Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | 1st | Heptathlon | 6645 (WR) | |
Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 1st | Decathlon | 8869 | ||
2013 | World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 1st | Decathlon | 8809 | |
2014 | World Indoor Championships | Sopot, Poland | 1st | Heptathlon | 6632 | |
2015 | World Championships | Beijing, China | 1st | Decathlon | 9045 (WR) | |
2016 | World Indoor Championships | Portland, United States | 1st | Heptathlon | 6470 | |
2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 1st | Decathlon | 8893 (OR) |
Personal bests
Outdoor
- As of August 29, 2015
Event | Performance | Location | Date | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
Decathlon | 9,045 points [a] | Beijing | August 29, 2015 | 9,045 points |
100 metres | 10.21 (+0.4 m/s) | Eugene | June 22, 2012 | 1,044 points |
Long jump | 8.23 m (27 ft 0 in) (+0.8 m/s)[b] | Eugene | June 22, 2012 | 1,120 points |
Shot put | 15.40 m (50 ft 6+1⁄4 in) | Palo Alto |
March 30, 2013 | 814 points |
High jump | 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) | Vancouver | June 10, 2012 | 906 points |
400 metres | 45.00[b] | Beijing | August 28, 2015 | 1,060 points |
110 metres hurdles | 13.35 | Eugene | June 4, 2011 | 1,060 points |
Discus throw | 47.36 m (155 ft 4+1⁄2 in) | Chula Vista | August 14, 2011 | 816 points |
Pole vault | 5.40 m (17 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | Portland | August 8, 2015 | 1,035 points |
Javelin throw | 66.64 m (218 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | San Luis Obispo |
March 16, 2013 | 838 points |
1500 metres | 4:14.48 | Eugene | June 23, 2012 | 850 points |
Virtual Best Performance | 9,543 points |
Event | Performance | Location | Date |
---|---|---|---|
400 metres hurdles | 48.69 | Glasgow | July 11, 2014[31] |
- a World record
- Decathlon best
Indoor
- As of February 14, 2016.
Event | Performance | Location | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Heptathlon | 6645[d] | Istanbul | March 10, 2012 |
60 metres | 6.66 | Tallinn | February 5, 2011 |
Long jump | 8.16 m (26 ft 9+1⁄4 in)[e] | Istanbul | March 9, 2012 |
Shot put | 15.05 m (49 ft 4+1⁄2 in) | Boston | February 8, 2014 |
High jump | 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) | Fayetteville | February 5, 2010 |
60 metres hurdles | 7.51 | New York | February 14, 2015 |
Pole vault | 5.40 m (17 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | Boston | February 14, 2016 |
1000 metres | 2:32.67 | Fayetteville | March 13, 2010 |
- d World record
- e Heptathlon best
World records
No. | Event | Points | Meet | Location | Date | Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Heptathlon | 6499 | 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships | Fayetteville | March 13, 2010 | 22 |
2 | Heptathlon | 6568 | Tallinn International Indoor Combined Events Meeting | Tallinn | February 6, 2011 | 23 |
3 | Heptathlon | 6645 | 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships | Istanbul | March 10, 2012 | 24 |
4 | Decathlon | 9039 | 2012 United States Olympic Trials
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Eugene | June 23, 2012 | 24 |
5 | Decathlon | 9045 | 2015 World Championships | Beijing | August 29, 2015 | 27 |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Ashton Eaton". teamusa.org. USOC. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ "France's Mayer breaks decathlon world record". Reuters. September 16, 2018.
- ^ "Top 10 greatest U.S. Summer Olympic gold medalists of all time". ABC News. August 15, 2016.
- ^ "We Are Eaton – Healthy Food & Food Education". Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ "Olympic medallists Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton announce retirements". BBC Sport. May 17, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Moore, Kenny. "Can a Runner Be the World's Greatest Athlete?" Runner's World. July 2012. Archived June 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Accessed June 24, 2012.
- ^ a b c Layden, Tim. "Faster Higher Stronger." Sports Illustrated. June 11, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- ^ Clarey, Christopher. "London Calling." Bend Bulletin. May 9, 2012. Accessed June 27, 2012.
- Eugene Register-Guard. May 10, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- ^ Prince, Seth. "Ashton Eaton, Rising Star in Decathlon, Readies for World Championships." The Oregonian. August 4, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- ^ Zaldivar, Gabe. "Pics of Asthon Eaton's Fiance Brianne Theisen". Bleacher Report.
- ^ Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen: An Olympic Duck Love Story; University of Oregon Alumni Association newsletter, February 2013; accessed 8 March 2014.
- ^ "Ashton And Brianne Eaton Plan Move From Oregon To Bay Area, Hope For Future Trip To Mars". teamusa.org. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017.
- ^ Comprehensive collegiate career highlights listed at University of Oregon athletics website GoDucks.com
- ^ Goe, Ken (May 11, 2008). "Ashton Eaton wins dec". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Eaton does it again". The Bulletin. June 12, 2009. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
- ^ Goe, Ken (June 18, 2009). "More honors for Ashton Eaton and Galen Rupp". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on June 25, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2009.
- ^ Ken Goe (June 11, 2010). "NCAA Track & Field Championships: Ashton Eaton and Andrew Wheating come up big for the Ducks". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. December 15, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ^ "Men Decathlon." 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field. USA Track and Field. 2008. Accessed June 27, 2012.
- ^ Goe, Ken (June 26, 2009). "Oregon's Ashton Eaton second to Trey Hardee in decathlon". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
- ^ "World championships: Trey Hardee wins, Ashton Eaton 18th in decathlon". Associated Press. August 20, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
- IAAF. Retrieved on February 12, 2011.
- ^ Hart, Simon (August 28, 2011). "World Athletics Championships 2011: American Trey Hardee retains decathlon title as Ashton Eaton fades". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
- ^ Eddie Pells (June 24, 2012). "Ashton Eaton Sets World Record in Decathlon". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- ^ "USA Track & Field – Status of Entries". Usatf.org. Archived from the original on June 19, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ^ Olympic Games – London 2012. Entry Standards. Approved by IAAF Council April 2011. Amended by IAAF Council November 2011. Archived July 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Accessed June 27, 2012.
- ^ "US Olympic Trials". Usatf.org. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- ^ Staff (June 24, 2012). "Ashton Eaton sets world mark". ESPN. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- ^ David Leon Moore (June 24, 2012). "Ashton Eaton breaks decathlon world record". USA Today. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- ^ "AA-DRINK FBK Games :: Saturday 8 June 2014 - Live Results - 400m Hurdles Men". Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
External links
- Ashton Eaton at Decathlon 2000
- Ashton Eaton at World Athletics
- Ashton Eaton at legacy.USATF.org (archived)
- Ashton Eaton at Team USA (archived)
- Ashton Eaton at Olympics.com
- Ashton Eaton at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
- Ashton Eaton at University of Oregon Ducks
- Ashton Eaton on Twitter