I would like to have a decathlon where all of my throws are really consistent and set the tone. That I'm good all-around, not just a speed and jump guy.
Ashton Eaton
Nike came to me and said, 'We're interested in the decathlon and interested in seeing if we can help you get as close to 10,000 points as we can.'
I guess the decathlon's never an easy walkthrough.
The great thing about this is, and not to pump my own tires, but I feel like I'm not maximized yet. I feel like I can still run faster, jump higher, which I think makes it special. Hopefully, going to London, I'll be welcomed into the decathlon community.
The decathlon is exclusive company.
If I really felt like I was the world's greatest athlete, I'd get 10 great events. But I know that's pretty much not possible. That's the toughness of the decathlon.
There's never going to be a decathlon that you're going to have 10 events that your satisfied with. You're always, always going to be dissatisfied in something, and that always draws you back to try to retry that the next time you do a decathlon. It's like you go for the perfect 10.
The thing I like about decathlon is also the thing I dislike: It's the maximum challenge, but also the maximum frustration.
I'm just happy to be part of the family, the decathlon family.
The questions to ask are, why was the decathlon so popular before, and what happened to make it fade? I notice a lot of things in general tend to follow that up-and-down trend.
Even though decathlon is really long, there's always something different to look forward to, which is great for mental stimulation.
The heptathlon world record is nice, but the decathlon is the event. I think the heptathlon is more like a practice. There is something completely different about the decathlon.
From the time I started the decathlon, I've loved the event. I didn't know why. I still don't know why.
When I was a junior and an up-and-coming athlete, I don't think I looked to anyone for inspiration. I was so busy trying to improve myself and learning these new events and learning about the decathlon in general that I didn't really have time to focus on anyone else.
I like to lift and do cardio to stay in shape, so I can walk the dog on somebody, and I like to be strong, but running 10 miles or a decathlon? That don't support my interests.
Brantley Gilbert
I don't think anyone chooses the decathlon as much as it chooses you.
Bryan Clay
Before the decathlon I'm constantly trying to convince myself that I want to do this, that I want to take myself to that place where it's going to hurt and things are going to be tough. But that's like anything - you want to give your best.
I'm competitive. I like to compete, and that's basically what the decathlon lets me do.
If you're going to dedicate every second to winning the decathlon, what are you doing wasting your time in bed?
Caitlyn Jenner
I called Daley Thompson after the Games of '84, when he won. He'd had this phenomenal decathlon for nine events - and then he went out there and jogged the 1,500 meters and missed the world record by, like, three points.
If I were to compare the Olympic decathlon to fatherhood, I would say fatherhood is a lot tougher.
Decathletes have to train for every event: sprints one day, field events the next. You pump up to make yourself strong enough to throw? Try pole vaulting at 250 pounds. There are 32 guys in most decathlons, and they're in 32 little track meets.
Speed is more important than endurance in the decathlon.
It hurts every day when you practice hard, but when this decathlon is over, I got the rest of my life to recuperate. Who cares how bad it hurts?
The only thing I did is, I wore the same pair of socks in every decathlon I was ever in.
Sometimes you have to resist working on your strengths in favour of your weaknesses. The decathlon requires a wide range of skills.
When I lost my decathlon world record I took it like a man. I only cried for ten hours.
Most people doing the decathlon these days are quite boring, so people don't relate to them.
I didn't even know what it was when I started. But I was lucky. I found it at 16. Most people don't discover decathlon until they're 21 or 22.
The decathlon takes so long to learn that people who are good athletes don't want to go back to the beginning again.
And there is such a thing as a decathlon high. It's like a rock rolling down hill, picking up momentum. You get better and better.
To me, the decathlon is its own little society and I am part of that culture.
The decathlon includes ten separate events and they all matter. You can't work on just one of them.
It took me time to realize that the men who won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon are just men, just like me.
I got interested in decathlon because a coach that I had was a big fan of Bruce Jenner, and he just saw the ability in me - but when it came down to it, I knew my best chance at a college scholarship would be in track and field.
I could be winning the decathlon in high school, which I've won twice, yet, if my dad is in the audience, 'Oh look! It's Anthony Quinn.' And I'm like, 'Hello? Kid just got a gold medal. Hello? I'm over here.'
When I was growing up, yearning with my pals to be a track star, one of our heroes was Bruce Jenner. He won a gold medal at the 1976 Olympics in the decathlon, and he adorned our Wheaties boxes. We all wanted to be Bruce Jenner.
The whole decathlon is ridiculous, but the 1,500 meters is insanity.
During the decathlon, I always think only of the next event and my personal record.
