Photo: Gumpert10, modified by SuperManu—Public domain

Dan O'Brien

Birth dateJul 18, 1966

BirthplacePortland, United States

Height1.88 m

Weight84 kg

Dan O'Brien is an American former decathlete born on July 18, 1966, in Portland, Oregon. Standing 188 cm and weighing 84 kg, he became one of the greatest decathletes in history, winning the Olympic gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

O'Brien dominated the decathlon during the early 1990s, winning three consecutive World Championship titles in 1991, 1993, and 1995. In 1992, he set the world record with 8,891 points at the Talence meeting in France, though he had famously failed to qualify for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics after missing all three attempts in the pole vault at the U.S. Trials.

His redemption came at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where he won gold on home soil with 8,824 points. O'Brien's combination of speed, strength, and technical skill across all ten events established him as the standard by which decathletes of his era were measured. His world record stood for seven years.

Key facts

Decathlon

8891

#9 all-time

Heptathlon Short Track

6476

2003 season best

14.89

May 10, 2003 · Modesto, CA (USA)

2003 season best

Medals

Olympic Games: 1 gold · World Championships: 3 gold

Age

60 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: Decathlon 8891 (#9 all-time), Heptathlon Short Track 6476, 2003 season best 14.89 (May 10, 2003, Modesto, CA (USA)) · Olympic Games: 1 gold · World Championships: 3 gold · 60 years old

Personal bests

10.23

46.53

4:36.63

13.47

2.20

5.20

8.08

#694 all-time

16.69

55.07

66.90

8891

7.68

2:57.96

2:57.96

6.67

6.63

7.26

6476

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
Olympic Games	1	-	-	1
World Championships	3	-	-	3
Total	4	-	-	4

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
2003	110mH	14.89	+1.4	May 10, 2003	↓	Modesto, CA (USA)
2003	JT	62.04	-	May 10, 2003	↓	Modesto, CA (USA)
2002	HJ	2.01	-	Jun 19, 2002	↑	Berkeley, CA (USA)
2002	PV	4.80	-	Jun 20, 2002	↓	Berkeley, CA (USA)
2002	LJ	7.12	-	Jun 19, 2002	↑	Berkeley, CA (USA)
2002	55mH	7.56	-	Jan 12, 2002	↓	Chenay (USA) (i)
2002	100m	10.86	-0.9	Jun 19, 2002	↓	Berkeley, CA (USA)
2002	110mH	14.05	+2.1	Jun 20, 2002	↓	Sacramento, CA (USA)
2002	SP	14.99	-	Jun 19, 2002	↑	Berkeley, CA (USA)
2002	DT	53.60	-	Jun 20, 2002	↓	Berkeley, CA (USA)
2002	JT	64.47	-	Jun 20, 2002	↓	Berkeley, CA (USA)
2002	Dec	6904	-	Jun 20, 2002	↑	Berkeley, CA (USA)
2000	PV	4.92	-	Jul 8, 2000	↓	Flagstaff, AZ (USA)
2000	LJ	7.02	+1.8	Jul 1, 2000	↑	Palo Alto, CA (USA)
2000	110mH	14.33	+1.3	May 13, 2000	↓	Modesto, CA (USA)
2000	DT	51.00	-	Jul 8, 2000	↓	Flagstaff, AZ (USA)
2000	JT	63.58	-	Jul 8, 2000	↓	Flagstaff, AZ (USA)
1999	PV	5.10	-	Apr 24, 1999	↓	Pullman, WA (USA)
1999	50MetresHu	6.63	-	Feb 13, 1999	-	Los Angeles, CA (USA) (i)
1999	LJ	7.13	-	Jan 23, 1999	↑	San Diego, CA (USA) (i)
1999	55mH	7.26	-	Jan 23, 1999	↓	San Diego, CA (USA) (i)
1999	60mH	7.76	-	Feb 5, 1999	↑	New York, NY (USA) (i)
1999	100m	10.70	+1.8	May 8, 1999	↓	Modesto, CA (USA)
1999	110mH	13.72	+3.3	May 8, 1999	↓	Tucson, AZ (USA)
1999	SP	14.65	-	Apr 17, 1999	↑	Washington, DC (USA)
1999	DT	55.07	-	May 8, 1999	↓	Modesto, CA (USA)
1998	HJ	2.11	-	Jul 19, 1998	↑	New York, NY (USA)
1998	PV	5.20	-	Jul 20, 1998	↓	New York, NY (USA)
1998	LJ	7.78	+2.2	Jul 19, 1998	↑	New York, NY (USA)
1998	100m	10.52	+2.3	May 10, 1998	↓	New York, NY (USA)
1998	110mH	13.53	+1.3	May 10, 1998	↓	Modesto, CA (USA)
1998	SP	15.67	-	Jul 19, 1998	↑	New York, NY (USA)
1998	400m	48.04	-	Jul 19, 1998	↑	New York, NY (USA)
1998	DT	52.66	-	May 9, 1998	↓	Modesto, CA (USA)
1998	JT	66.31	-	Jul 20, 1998	↓	New York, NY (USA)
1998	1500m	5:08.77	-	Jul 20, 1998	↓	New York, NY (USA)
1998	Dec	8755	-	Jul 20, 1998	↑	New York, NY (USA)
1997	110mH	13.81	+1.0	May 10, 1997	↓	Modesto, CA (USA)
1996	HJ	2.08	-	Jun 21, 1996	↑	Atlanta, GA (USA)
1996	PV	5.20	-	Jun 22, 1996	↓	Atlanta, GA (USA)
1996	60mH	7.68	-	Mar 2, 1996	↑	Atlanta, GA (USA) (i)
1996	LJ	7.73	-	Feb 3, 1996	↑	Houston, TX (USA) (i)
1996	100m	10.32	+1.7	Jun 21, 1996	↓	Atlanta, GA (USA)
1996	110mH	13.81	+1.7	May 26, 1996	↓	Eugene, OR (USA)
1996	SP	15.66	-	Jul 31, 1996	↑	The XXVI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Atlanta, GA
1996	400m	46.81	-	Jun 21, 1996	↑	Atlanta, GA (USA)
1996	DT	51.26	-	Mar 16, 1996	↓	Richland, WA (USA)
1996	JT	66.90	-	Aug 1, 1996	↓	The XXVI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Atlanta, GA
1996	1500m	4:45.89	-	Aug 1, 1996	↓	The XXVI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Atlanta, GA
1996	Dec	8824	-	Aug 1, 1996	↑	The XXVI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Atlanta, GA
1995	HJ	2.13	-	Aug 6, 1995	↑	IAAF World Championships
1995	PV	5.20	-	Aug 7, 1995	↓	IAAF World Championships
1995	LJ	7.82	+3.5	Jun 14, 1995	↑	San José (USA)
1995	100m	10.36	+1.5	Jun 14, 1995	↓	Sacramento, CA (USA)
1995	110mH	13.47	+0.0	May 27, 1995	↓	San José (USA)
1995	SP	15.28	-	Jun 14, 1995	↑	Sacramento, CA (USA)
1995	400m	47.81	-	Aug 6, 1995	↑	IAAF World Championships
1995	DT	51.18	-	Jun 15, 1995	↓	Sacramento, CA (USA)
1995	JT	62.90	-	Aug 7, 1995	↓	IAAF World Championships
1995	1500m	4:52.52	-	Aug 7, 1995	↓	IAAF World Championships
1995	Dec	8695	-	Aug 7, 1995	↑	IAAF World Championships
1994	HJ	2.20	-	Jul 28, 1994	↑	St. Petersburg (RUS)
1994	PV	5.20	-	Sep 11, 1994	↓	Talence (FRA)
1994	LJ	7.82	+2.3	Jul 22, 1994	↑	St. Petersburg (RUS)
1994	100m	10.31	+2.6	Jun 14, 1994	↓	Talence (FRA)
1994	110mH	13.81	+0.6	Jul 29, 1994	↓	St. Petersburg (RUS)
1994	SP	15.87	-	Jun 14, 1994	↑	Knoxville, TN (USA)
1994	400m	47.73	-	Jul 28, 1994	↑	St. Petersburg (RUS)
1994	DT	48.88	-	Sep 11, 1994	↓	Talence (FRA)
1994	JT	62.28	-	Jun 15, 1994	↓	Knoxville, TN (USA)
1994	1500m	4:56.58	-	Sep 11, 1994	↓	Talence (FRA)
1994	Dec	8715	-	Jul 29, 1994	↑	St. Petersburg (RUS)
1993	HJ	2.13	-	Mar 13, 1993	↑	IAAF World Indoor Championships, The Sky Dome, Toronto (i)
1993	PV	5.20	-	Mar 14, 1993	↓	IAAF World Indoor Championships, The Sky Dome, Toronto (i)
1993	60m	6.67	-	Mar 13, 1993	-	IAAF World Indoor Championships, The Sky Dome, Toronto (i)
1993	60mH	7.85	-	Mar 14, 1993	↑	IAAF World Indoor Championships, The Sky Dome, Toronto (i)
1993	LJ	7.99	+0.4	Aug 19, 1993	↑	IAAF World Championships, Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart
1993	100m	10.57	+0.9	Aug 19, 1993	↓	IAAF World Championships, Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart
1993	110mH	13.93	-0.3	May 29, 1993	↓	San José (USA)
1993	SP	16.02	-	Mar 13, 1993	↑	IAAF World Indoor Championships, The Sky Dome, Toronto (i)
1993	400m	47.46	-	Aug 19, 1993	↑	IAAF World Championships, Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart
1993	DT	47.92	-	Aug 20, 1993	↓	IAAF World Championships, Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart
1993	JT	62.56	-	Aug 20, 1993	↓	IAAF World Championships, Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart
1993	1000m	2:57.96	-	Mar 14, 1993	-	IAAF World Indoor Championships, The Sky Dome, Toronto (i)
1993	1000m-short-track	2:57.96	-	Mar 14, 1993	-	IAAF World Indoor Championships, The Sky Dome, Toronto (i)
1993	1500m	4:40.08	-	Aug 20, 1993	↓	IAAF World Championships, Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart
1993	Heptathlon	6476	-	Mar 14, 1993	-	IAAF World Indoor Championships, The Sky Dome, Toronto (i)
1993	Dec	8817	-	Aug 20, 1993	↑	IAAF World Championships, Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart
1992	HJ	2.07	-	Sep 4, 1992	↑	Talence (FRA)
1992	PV	5.00	-	Sep 5, 1992	↓	Talence (FRA)
1992	LJ	8.08	+1.8	Sep 4, 1992	↑	Talence (FRA)
1992	100m	10.43	+2.1	Sep 4, 1992	↓	Talence (FRA)
1992	110mH	13.98	-0.5	Sep 5, 1992	↓	Talence (FRA)
1992	SP	16.69	-	Sep 4, 1992	↑	Talence (FRA)
1992	400m	48.51	-	Sep 4, 1992	↑	Talence (FRA)
1992	DT	48.56	-	Sep 5, 1992	↓	Talence (FRA)
1992	JT	62.58	-	Sep 5, 1992	↓	Talence (FRA)
1992	1500m	4:42.10	-	Sep 5, 1992	↓	Talence (FRA)
1992	Dec	8891	-	Sep 5, 1992	↑	Talence (FRA)
1991	HJ	2.08	-	Jun 12, 1991	↑	New York, NY (USA)
1991	PV	5.20	-	Aug 30, 1991	↓	IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
1991	LJ	8.11	+2.3	May 11, 1991	↑	National Stadium, Tokyo (JPN)
1991	100m	10.23	-	Jun 12, 1991	↓	National Stadium, Tokyo (JPN)
1991	110mH	13.94	-1.2	Aug 30, 1991	↓	IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
1991	SP	16.24	-	Aug 29, 1991	↑	IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
1991	400m	46.53	-	Aug 29, 1991	↑	IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
1991	DT	48.08	-	Jun 13, 1991	↓	New York, NY (USA)
1991	JT	60.66	-	Aug 30, 1991	↓	IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
1991	1500m	4:37.50	-	Aug 30, 1991	↓	IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
1991	Dec	8844	-	Jun 13, 1991	↑	National Stadium, Tokyo (JPN)
1990	HJ	2.13	-	Jun 12, 1990	↑	Norwalk, CA (USA)
1990	PV	4.55	-	Jul 25, 1990	↓	Seattle, WA (USA)
1990	LJ	8.04	+0.9	Jun 12, 1990	↑	Norwalk, CA (USA)
1990	100m	10.40	+4.1	Jun 12, 1990	↓	Seattle, WA (USA)
1990	110mH	14.03	+6.6	Jun 13, 1990	↓	Seattle, WA (USA)
1990	SP	15.36	-	Jun 12, 1990	↑	Norwalk, CA (USA)
1990	DT	46.34	-	Jul 25, 1990	↓	Seattle, WA (USA)
1990	400m	48.38	-	Jul 24, 1990	↑	Seattle, WA (USA)
1990	JT	58.16	-	Jun 13, 1990	↓	Norwalk, CA (USA)
1990	1500m	4:36.63	-	Jul 25, 1990	↓	Seattle, WA (USA)
1990	Dec	8483	-	Jun 13, 1990	↑	Seattle, WA (USA)
1989	110mH	13.81	-	Apr 30, 1989	↓	Modesto, CA (USA)
1989	Dec	7987	-	Apr 1, 1989	↑	San Francisco, CA (USA)
1988	Dec	7891	-	Jun 26, 1988	↑	Santa Barbara, CA (USA)

2003

2 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
JT	62.04	-	May 10	Modesto Relays, Modesto, CA
110mH	14.89	+1.4	May 10	Modesto Relays, Modesto, CA

2002

24 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
110mH	14.05	+2.1	Jun 20	Berkeley US ME Championships, Berkeley, CA
Dec	6904	-	Jun 20	Berkeley US ME Championships, Berkeley, CA
JT	64.47	-	Jun 20	Berkeley US ME Championships, Berkeley, CA
PV	4.80	-	Jun 20	Berkeley US ME Championships, Berkeley, CA
DT	53.60	-	Jun 20	Berkeley US ME Championships, Berkeley, CA
SP	14.99	-	Jun 19	Berkeley US ME Championships, Berkeley, CA
HJ	2.01	-	Jun 19	Berkeley US ME Championships, Berkeley, CA
LJ	7.12	-	Jun 19	Berkeley US ME Championships, Berkeley, CA
100m	10.86	-0.9	Jun 19	Berkeley US ME Championships, Berkeley, CA
100m	10.89	+2.1	May 11	Modesto Relays Open, Modesto, CA - Open Event
DT	52.71	-	May 11	Modesto Relays Inv., Modesto, CA
110mH	14.23	+1.2	May 11	Modesto Relays Open, Modesto, CA - Open Event
110mH	14.20	-	May 4	Sacramento Spring Inv., Sacramento, CA
SP	14.33	-	Apr 26	Pullman, WA
HJ	1.95	-	Apr 26	Pullman, WA
DT	51.08	-	Mar 29	Berkeley ME, Berkeley, CA
110mH	14.41	+2.6	Mar 29	Berkeley ME, Berkeley, CA
110mH	14.55	+1.0	Mar 23	Tempe Baldy Castillo Invitational, Tempe, AZ
DT	50.21	-	Mar 23	Tempe Baldy Castillo Invitational, Tempe, AZ
JT	58.52	-	Mar 22	Tempe Baldy Castillo Invitational, Tempe, AZ
LJ	6.82	+2.1	Mar 22	Tempe Baldy Castillo Invitational, Tempe, AZ
SP	14.78	-	Feb 9	Lincoln adidas Midwest Track Classic, Lincoln, NE (i)
55mH	7.56	-	Jan 12	Cheney Early Bird Open, Chenay (i)
55mH	7.71	-	Jan 12	Cheney Early Bird Open, Chenay (i)

2000

5 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
PV	4.92	-	Jul 8	Flagstaff High Altitude Serie 4, Flagstaff, AZ
JT	63.58	-	Jul 8	Flagstaff High Altitude Serie 4, Flagstaff, AZ
DT	51.00	-	Jul 8	Flagstaff High Altitude Serie 4, Flagstaff, AZ
LJ	7.02	+1.8	Jul 1	Palo Alto GMC Envoy Open, Palo Alto, CA
110mH	14.33	+1.3	May 13	Modesto Relays Inv., Modesto, CA

1999

19 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
110mH	13.90	-0.6	May 17	Tucson Pre-Pac-10 Meet, Tucson, AZ
100m	10.87	-0.1	May 17	Tucson Pre-Pac-10 Meet, Tucson, AZ
DT	55.07	-	May 8	Modesto Open, Modesto, CA
100m	10.70	+1.8	May 8	Modesto Open, Modesto, CA
110mH	13.72	+3.3	May 8	Modesto Relays, Modesto, CA
PV	5.10	-	Apr 24	Pullman Cougar, Pullman, WA
DT	51.76	-	Apr 17	Washington Dual Meet, Washington, DC
SP	14.65	-	Apr 17	Washington Dual Meet, Washington, DC
100m	10.96	-1.6	Apr 17	Washington Dual Meet, Washington, DC
60mH	8.00	-	Feb 27	USA Indoor Championships
LJ	7.10	-	Feb 13	Los Angeles Invitational, Los Angeles, CA (i)
50MetresHu	6.63	-	Feb 13	Los Angeles Invitational, Los Angeles, CA (i)
LJ	7.02	-	Feb 7	New Balance Invitational, Boston, MA (i)
60mH	8.06	-	Feb 7	New Balance Invitational, Boston, MA (i)
60mH	7.76	-	Feb 5	New York Chase Millrose Games, New York, NY (i)
LJ	7.05	-	Jan 30	Reno, NV (i)
55mH	7.42	-	Jan 30	Reno, NV (i)
LJ	7.13	-	Jan 23	San Diego, CA (i)
55mH	7.26	-	Jan 23	San Diego, CA (i)

Showing 1 - 50 of 318

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Dan O'Brien's Decathlon personal best?

Dan O'Brien's Decathlon personal best is 8891, set on Sep 5, 1992 in Talence (FRA), #9 on the all-time list.

Which events does Dan O'Brien compete in?

Dan O'Brien competes in the Decathlon and Heptathlon Short Track.

How did Dan O'Brien perform in 2003?

2003 season best: 14.89, set on May 10, 2003 in Modesto, CA (USA).

How many medals has Dan O'Brien won?

Dan O'Brien has won 1 Olympic Games medal and 3 World Championships medals.

Dan O'Brien

Personal bests

Medals

Performance Charts

Season bests

2003

2002

2000

1999

Honours

Frequently asked questions