USA Track & Field may have found its face for the London Olympics — and perhaps the next decade.
Ashton Eaton broke the 11-year-old world record in the decathlon Saturday at the Olympic track trials. More impressively, he did it in poor conditions that left his fellow competitors and the former U.S. decathletes in attendance — including Dan O’Brien and Bruce Jenner — in awe.
“The most impressive thing was that he kept up his intensity in this weather,” O’Brien told reporters. “I certainly didn’t think he could break the world record when you see the rain coming down like this.”
It’s arguable that the United States hasn’t had a transcendent star since Michael Johnson and Marion Jones (for the wrong reasons). Eaton is charismatic enough, telegenic enough and talented enough to be just that. And at just 24 and a couple years removed from his collegiate days at Oregon, he only took up one of the sporting world’s toughest disciplines about five years ago.
That means he’s only going to get better.
– Scott Silverstein
