Ashton Eaton
Two-time Olympic decathlon champion and former world record holder.
Ashton James Eaton (born January 21, 1988) is a retired American decathlete and two-time Olympic champion. He previously held the world record in the decathlon and indoor heptathlon, and is the only person to exceed 9,000 points in the decathlon twice. Eaton was the second decathlete ever to break the 9,000-point barrier, achieving 9,039 points, and later bettered his own record with a score of 9,045 points on August 29, 2015. His world record was eventually broken in September 2018 by Frenchman Kevin Mayer. Eaton competed for the Oregon Track Club Elite and, in college, represented the University of Oregon, where he became a five-time NCAA champion and won The Bowerman award in 2010. He earned his first international medal, a silver, at the 2011 World Championships. The following year, he broke his own world record in the indoor heptathlon at the 2012 World Indoor Championships, then set a new decathlon world record at the Olympic Trials before winning gold at the 2012 London Olympics. He successfully defended his Olympic title at the 2016 Rio Games, tying the Olympic record. Eaton is only the third Olympian to achieve back-to-back gold medals in the decathlon, after Bob Mathias and Daley Thompson. Born in Portland, Oregon, to a Black father and White mother, Eaton was raised primarily by his mother after his parents separated when he was two. He was athletic from a young age, competing in multiple sports and earning a black belt in taekwondo. In high school, he won Oregon state championships in the 400 meters and long jump. Initially considering playing Division III football, he chose the University of Oregon on the advice of his high school coach, who suggested he pursue the decathlon. Under coach Dan Steele, Eaton rapidly improved, and after Steele left, decathlon coach Harry Marra further developed his skills. Eaton won three consecutive NCAA decathlon titles, a first for a male athlete, and broke the indoor heptathlon world record at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships. He graduated from Oregon in 2010.
- born
- January 21, 1988, Portland, Oregon, USA
- field
- Decathlon, heptathlon
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Two-time Olympic decathlon gold medalist; former world record holder in decathlo
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Honorific Suffix
- OLY · size=100%
- Full Name
- Ashton James Eaton
- Birth Date
- mf=yes · 1988 · 1 · 21
- Birth Place
- Portland, Oregon, U.S.
- Height
- 6 ft
- Weight
- 180 lb
- Sport
- Track and field
- Event
- Decathlon, heptathlon
- Club
- Oregon Track Club
- Coach
- Harry Marra
- Personal Best
- Decathlon: 9,045 / Heptathlon: 6,645
- Show Medals
- yes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Eaton was born in Portland, Oregon, the only child of Roslyn Eaton and Terrance Wilson. His parents separated when he was two, and he moved with his mother to La Pine, Oregon, then to Bend, where he attended Mountain View High School. He was athletic from a young age, competing in football, basketball, track, soccer, and wrestling, and earned a black belt in taekwondo. In 2006, he won the Oregon state high school 400 m championship in 48.69 seconds and the long jump championship with 24 feet 0.25 inches. He chose the University of Oregon after his high school coach suggested a strong decathlon program. In college, Eaton was a five-time NCAA champion and won The Bowerman award in 2010. He broke the heptathlon world record at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships with a score of 6,499, and won three consecutive NCAA decathlon titles. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2010. He competed for the Oregon Track Club Elite team based in Eugene, Oregon. Eaton won his first international medal, a silver, at the 2011 World Championships. In 2012, he broke the world record in the heptathlon at the World Indoor Championships with 6,645 points, then broke the decathlon world record at the Olympic Trials with 9,039 points. He won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics and successfully defended his title at the 2016 Summer Olympics, tying the Olympic record. He is only the third Olympian (after Bob Mathias and Daley Thompson) to achieve back-to-back gold medals in the decathlon.
Reader's Guide
Ashton Eaton's significance lies in his dominance of the decathlon during the 2010s, becoming the second man (after Roman Šebrle) to break the 9,000-point barrier and the only one to do so twice. His world record of 9,045 points, set on August 29, 2015, stood until broken by Kevin Mayer on September 16, 2018, with 9,126 points. Eaton's back-to-back Olympic gold medals place him in an elite group with Bob Mathias and Daley Thompson. His collegiate career at the University of Oregon, where he won five NCAA titles and The Bowerman in 2010, established him as a prodigious talent. Eaton's ability to excel across all ten events, particularly his speed in the 100 m (10.21 at the 2012 Trials) and 400 m (46.70 in pouring rain), and his long jump of 8.23 m at the same Trials, made him a versatile and formidable competitor. His legacy includes raising the standard for decathlon performance and inspiring future combined-events athletes.
Did You Know?
- Eaton is the only decathlete to exceed 9,000 points twice, with scores of 9,039 and 9,045.
- He broke the indoor heptathlon world record twice: first with 6,499 points in 2010, then with 6,645 points at the 2012 World Indoor Championships.
- At the 2012 Olympic Trials, Eaton opened the decathlon with a 100 m of 10.21 and a long jump of 8.23 m, both world decathlon bests for a full decathlon.
- Eaton is only the third Olympian (after Bob Mathias and Daley Thompson) to win back-to-back decathlon gold medals.
- In high school, Eaton won the Oregon state 400 m championship in 48.69 seconds and the long jump championship with 24 feet 0.25 inches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ashton Eaton?
Ashton Eaton is a retired American multi-event athlete who specialized in the decathlon and indoor heptathlon. He is widely regarded as one of the most dominant multi-event competitors in Olympic history.
How many Olympic gold medals did Ashton Eaton win?
Eaton captured decathlon gold at two consecutive Olympic Games, cementing his status as a two-time Olympic champion. No other athlete matched his level of dominance in the event during that span.
What world records did Ashton Eaton hold?
He set and held the world records in both the outdoor decathlon and the indoor heptathlon. Those marks represented the highest point totals ever recorded in their respective events before his retirement.
What makes Ashton Eaton's 9,000-point decathlon performances unique?
Eaton is the only decathlete in history to break the 9,000-point barrier on two separate occasions. That distinction highlights his extraordinary consistency and strength across all ten events.
Where and when was Ashton Eaton born?
He was born on January 21, 1988, in Portland, Oregon, United States. He went on to become one of the most decorated American track and field athletes of the 2010s.
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