Dan O’Brien (3)

Oct 19, 2026

Dan O’Brien won Olympic decathlon gold in Atlanta 1996 and three consecutive world titles in 1991, 1993 and 1995. The American set a world record of 8891 points in Talence 1992 and added the world indoor heptathlon title with a record 6476 points in Toronto 1993.

Decathlete Dan O’Brien - Decathlon 2000
United States

Date of birth: 18 July 1966
Place of birth: Portland, Oregon
Height: 189 cm / Weight: 84 kg
Decathlon: 8891v WR Talence 1992
Heptathlon: 6476 WR Toronto 1993
From Setbacks to Olympic Gold
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Dan O’Brien won an Olympic gold medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games (1996). He is triple decathlon World champion (1991, 1993, 1995) and a former World Record holder (8891 points scored in Talence 1992).

Personal bests
100 m (<=2.0 m/s)	10,32 (+1.7)	Atlanta, GA 1996
100 m (nwi)	10,23 nwi	New York 1991
Long jump (<=2.0 m/s)	8.08 (+1.8)	Talence 1992
Long jump (>2.0 m/s)	8.11 (+2.3)	Modesto 1991
Shot put	16.69	Talence 1992
High jump	2.20	Saint Petersburg 1994
400 m	46,53	Tokyo 1991
110 m hurdles	13,47 (+0.0)	San Jose 1997
Discus throw	55.07	Modesto 1999
Pole vault	5.25	Barcelona 1991
Javelin throw	66.90	Atlanta 1996
1500 m	4.33,19	San Francisco 1989
Total points based on PB	9572	Includes wind-assisted bests and nwi
Total 10 best decathlons	87801	Sum of ten highest decathlon scores
Personal bests indoors
60 m	6,67	Toronto 1993
60 m hurdles	7,68	Atlanta, GA 1996
1000 m	2.40,12
Indoor total points PB	6902	Includes wind-assisted bests

Decathlons with 8000+ points (16)
Points	Results	1st day	2nd day	P	Venue
8267	10,98 - 7.83 - 15.41 - 2.09 - 48,04 14,41 - 46.40 - 4.50 - 56.84 - 4.51,78	4491	3776	1	Pullman 1990
8483 W	10,40 - 8.04 - 15.36 - 2.13 - 49,25 14,03 - 46.04 - 4.30 - 58.16 - 4.43,90	4656	3827	2	Norwalk 1990
8358	10,99 - 7.91 - 15.16 - 2.08 - 48,38 14,44 - 46.34 - 4.55 - 57.40 - 4.36,63	4470	3888	2	Seattle 1990
8844 W nwi	10,23 - 7.96 - 16.06 - 2.08 - 47,70 13,95 - 48.08 - 5.10 - 57.40 - 4.45,54	4747	4097	1	New York 1991
8812 NR	10,41 - 7.90 - 16.24 - 1.91 - 46,53 13,94 - 47.20 - 5.20 - 60.66 - 4.37,50	4602	4210	1	Tokyo 1991
8891 WR v	10,43 - 8.08 - 16.69 - 2.07 - 48,51 13,98 - 48.56 - 5.00 - 62.58 - 4.42,10	4720	4171	1	Talence 1992
8331	10,72 - 7.54 - 15.81 - 2.09 - 48,62 14,01 - 43.84 - 5.05 - 57.98 - 5.09,41	4475	3856	1	Eugene 1993
8817	10,57 - 7.99 - 15.41 - 2.03 - 47,46 14,08 - 47.92 - 5.20 - 62.56 - 4.40,08	4598	4219	1	Stuttgart 1993
8707 v	10,31 - 7.81 - 15.87 - 2.17 - 48,19 13,98 - 46.34 - 5.15 - 62.28 - 5.16,42	4738	3969	1	Knoxville 1994
8715	10,49 - 7.81 - 15.70 - 2.20 - 47,73 13,81 - 48.10 - 4.90 - 62.20 - 5.10,94	4736	3979	1	Saint Petersburg 1994
8710	10,43 - 7.75 - 15.81 - 2.06 - 48,06 13,91 - 48.88 - 5.20 - 59.56 - 4.56,58	4594	4116	1	Talence 1994
8682 v	10,36 - 7.82 - 15.28 - 2.09 - 47,96 13,84 - 51.18 - 4.80 - 61.56 - 5.01,02	4628	4054	1	Sacramento 1995
8695	10,57 - 7.55 - 14.82 - 2.13 - 47,81 13,78 - 46.92 - 5.20 - 62.90 - 4.52,52	4528	4167	1	Göteborg 1995
8726	10,32 - 7.46 - 15.64 - 2.08 - 46,81 14,04 - 49.38 - 5.20 - 65.22 - 5.12,01	4618	4108	1	Atlanta, GA 1996
8824	10,50 - 7.57 - 15.66 - 2.07 - 46,82 13,87 - 48.78 - 5.00 - 66.90 - 4.45,89	4592	4232	1	Atlanta 1996
8755 v	10,71 - 7.78 - 15.67 - 2.11 - 48,04 13,67 - 48.87 - 5.20 - 66.31 - 5.08,77	4575	4180	1	Uniondale 1998

Heptathlons with 5800+ points (1)
Points	Results	1st day	2nd day	P	Venue
6476 WR	6,67 - 7.84 - 16.02 - 2.13 - 7,85 - 5.20 - 2.57,96	3800	2676	1	Toronto 1993

International medals (8)
Year	Venue	Championships	Event	Points	Medal
1990	Seattle 1990	Goodwill Games	Decathlon	8358	Silver
1991	Tokyo 1991	World	Decathlon	8812 NR	Gold
1993	Toronto 1993	World Indoor	Heptathlon	6476 WR	Gold
1993	Stuttgart 1993	World	Decathlon	8817	Gold
1994	Saint Petersburg 1994	Goodwill Games	Decathlon	8715	Gold
1995	Göteborg 1995	World	Decathlon	8695	Gold
1996	Atlanta 1996	Olympic Games	Decathlon	8824	Gold
1998	Uniondale 1998	Goodwill Games	Decathlon	8755v	Gold

WR – world record
NR – national record
v – event with wind >2.0 m/s and <=4.0 m/s and wind average for 3 events <=2.0 m/s
W – one event with wind >4.0 m/s and wind average for 3 events >2.0 m/s (IAAF rule until 31/12/2009)
nwi – no wind information

Comments (3)

Ken Weinberg wrote on May 06, 2010

Hello, just wanted to say you motivated me back in the day and I still think back to the decathlon at LBCC in Albany when we went head to head and you had a broken foot and still kick my butt. Thanks for the inspiration. Ken

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eierluke wrote on Aug 30, 2011

Based on pure physical talent Dan O'Brien is the ultimate decathlon benchmark. His personal records therefore to me are the most important ones of any decathlete so far in history.
Since I couldn't find any result better than 5,20 m, does anybody has any source to confirm the 5,25 m pole vault he ist listed with here?
Thanks, Sven

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eierluke wrote on Nov 26, 2011

Dear Janek, and finally the last piece of the puzzle (5.25m pole vault) has been confirmed.
Decathlon expert Frank Zarnovski was so kind to answer my email:
"Hi Sven,
Dan's PR in the vault (5.25m) came at the Spanish nationals inAugust, 1991 in Barcelona. He did 4 individual events while 3 other Americans (I think Fucci, Janvrin and Huff) competed in the Spanish national decathlon. He never bettered that later in his career. Hope this helps.
Frank"
Sorry guys for having you bothered
Best wishes, Sven

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