American Ashton Eaton wrapped his incredible summer on Thursday by winning the gold medal in the decathlon with 8,869 points. Eaton finished 198 points ahead of fellow American Trey Hardee, the two-time and current defending world champion. Eaton had a cushion heading into the final event, the 1,500 meters, and he played it safe to ensure he would have enough at the finish, crossing in 4:33:59.
Eaton set the world record during Team USA trials in June and he backed up over the two-day event in London, finishing first in the 100m, 400m and the long jump. Hardee's Thursday finish clinched the first Team USA gold-silver finish in the event since 1956.
The world record holder crossed the line and made no big show of celebration, but a look of relief and satisfaction washed over his face. His teammate Hardee spoke about the special 1-2 finish and thinks there will be more success to come, via Ken Goe of The Oregonian:
"I'm a little less than six months I'll turn 29," Hardee said. "Ashton will still be 24. I think my best decathlons are in front of me. But Ashton's are too."
Cuba's Leonal Suarez finished a distant third, 346 points behind Eaton.
For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub.
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