Ashton Eaton

Born
Jan 21, 1988 (38 years old)
Birthplace
Portland, United States
Events
Decathlon · Heptathlon Short Track
Height
1.85 m
Weight
82 kg

Ashton Eaton, born January 21, 1988, in Portland, is a retired American decathlete widely regarded as one of the greatest multi-event athletes in history. He was a two-time Olympic champion and the second decathlete ever to break the 9,000-point barrier, a feat he accomplished twice, the only athlete to do so.

Eaton won his first international medal, a silver, at the 2011 World Championships. He then broke the world record in both the indoor heptathlon at the 2012 World Indoor Championships and the decathlon at the 2012 Olympic Trials, before claiming gold at the 2012 London Olympics. He successfully defended his Olympic title at the 2016 Rio Games, tying the Olympic record and becoming only the third man in history to win back-to-back decathlon golds, after Bob Mathias and Daley Thompson. In college, Eaton was a five-time NCAA champion at the University of Oregon and won The Bowerman award in 2010.

Eaton announced his retirement on January 3, 2017. His decathlon world record of 9,045 points stood until it was surpassed by Kevin Mayer in 2018.

Personal best · Decathlon9045
2016 season best8893Aug 18, 2016 · Estádio Olímpico, Rio de Janeiro
Medals5Olympic Games: 2 gold · World Championships: 2 gold, 1 silver
World record6645Heptathlon Short Track

As of Oct 28, 2026: Decathlon 9045 (#2 all-time), Heptathlon Short Track 6568, 2016 season best 8893 (Aug 18, 2016, Estádio Olímpico, Rio de Janeiro (BRA)) · Olympic Games: 2 gold · World Championships: 2 gold, 1 silver · World record (Heptathlon Short Track) · 38 years old

DisciplineResultAll-time
100mCA 201010.19*1,142 pts–
200mCA 201320.761,103 pts–
400mBeijing 201545.001,180 pts#404
800mIndoorNJ 20111:55.90915 pts–
1500mOR 20124:14.48693 pts–
110mHOR 201213.34*1,189 pts#241

* Wind-assisted (> 2.0 m/s)

Medals

CompetitionsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Olympic Games2––2
World Championships21–3
Total41–5

Progression

Compare me
SeasonDisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
2016HJ 2.01–Aug 17, 2016The XXXI Olympic Games
2016PV 5.40–Feb 14, 2016–
2016PV Indoor5.40–Feb 14, 2016Reggie Lewis Center, Boston, MA (USA) (i)
201660m 6.74–Feb 14, 2016–
201660m Indoor6.74–Feb 14, 2016Reggie Lewis Center, Boston, MA (USA) (i)
201660mH 7.53–Feb 20, 2016–
201660mH Indoor7.53–Feb 20, 2016New York, NY (USA) (i)
2016LJ 8.01+1.6Apr 16, 2016–
Compare me with Ashton Eaton

Media

Ashton Eaton
© Erik van Leeuwen · GFDL
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Ashton Eaton's Decathlon personal best is 9045, set on Aug 29, 2015 in National Stadium, Beijing (CHN), #2 on the all-time list.

Ashton Eaton competes in the Decathlon and Heptathlon Short Track.

2016 season best: 8893, set on Aug 18, 2016 in Estádio Olímpico, Rio de Janeiro (BRA).

Ashton Eaton has won 2 Olympic Games medals and 3 World Championships medals.

Yes, Ashton Eaton holds the Heptathlon Short Track world record with 6645.