Ashton Eaton

What if one athlete could be the fastest, the strongest, and the most skillful — all at once? Meet Ashton Eaton, a real-life champion!

Ashton Eaton is an American track-and-field star of the 21st century. He became famous as the world's top decathlete: a two-time Olympic gold medalist (London 2012 and Rio 2016) and a world-record holder in the decathlon and the indoor heptathlon. He competed for the United States and helped make multi-event sports exciting.

A decathlon is ten events spread across two days: 100 m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400 m, 110 m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and the 1500 m. Athletes earn points in each event; the total decides the winner. Winning a decathlon means being fast, strong, and skilled at many things — that is the heart of Ashton’s success.

Ashton broke records by scoring more points than anyone before him and used clever training to balance speed, jumping, throwing and endurance. Coaches and scientists studied his methods because he mixed different skills so well. For kids, his medals and world records show that smart practice and curiosity can push the limits of sport.

Ashton Eaton’s story tells us to try new events, work hard, and enjoy the challenge. You don't need to do all ten events right away — start with running, jumping or throwing games, practice a little every week, and build skills over time. Who knows? You might discover your inner decathlete.