At the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Ashton Eaton clinched his third straight decathlon crown with a meet‑record 8457 points, becoming the first male athlete ever to win three consecutive NCAA decathlon titles.
The piece explores a hypothetical decathlon record based on an athlete’s best performances over an entire season - rather than in the traditional two-day format.
Eaton’s 2012 win wasn’t just about points - it re-energized global interest in the decathlon and reminded everyone that the event demands speed, strength, endurance, and mental resilience in equal measure.
The discipline and training applied by decathletes have always been regarded by me as the ultimate in athletic dedication. Whilst it is of course always a huge honour for any decathlete to achieve the ultimate status of World Champion, I cannot help but regard all those who dedicate themselves to this most gruelling of athletic disciplines as Champions - unknown person