Dan O'Brien
Dan O'Brien
American decathlete who won an Olympic Gold medal in 1996, as well as titles at the World Championships in Athletics.
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionDecathlete
Date of Birth18 July 1966
CityPortland, OR
CountryUnited States of America
writing winter house
You can only look forward to a South Dakota winter if, as with childbirth, remodeling a house, or writing a novel, you're able to forget how bad it was the last time.
motivational athlete men
It took me time to realize that the men who won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon are just men, just like me.
college track fans
I got interested in decathlon because a coach that I had was a big fan of Bruce Jenner, and he just saw the ability in me - but when it came down to it, I knew my best chance at a college scholarship would be in track and field.
chameleon
I call myself a chameleon.
communication athlete successful
When first starting to work with someone you try to get them in the same mindset that you were in when you were successful, and I realized the best thing you can ever do is realize that they are not you. They have a different persona and mindset, and you have to figure out what works best within your communication with that athlete.
air trying balls
I was a good decathlete until I got with a coach that really knew how to train specifically for the event... I'd really describe it as like being a juggler; you have ten balls and you're trying to get them all in the air at the same time.
winning gold special
Breaking the world record in '92 was a very special personal moment, but I'd say my favorite moment as a decathlete was winning the Olympic gold medal.
trying
Try everything, because you're never sure what you're going to be great at.
baseball winning thinking
I was playing little league baseball when Bruce Jenner was winning the gold but I don't think I was really paying attention at that time.
distance athlete men
You need to become more than one type of athlete. You have to be a sprinter, a weight man and a distance guy all in one.
littles culture decathlon
To me, the decathlon is its own little society and I am part of that culture.
limits pushing shapes
There is nothing better than having a personal-best day, being in shape and pushing myself beyond my own limits.
matter events just-one
The decathlon includes ten separate events and they all matter. You can't work on just one of them.
giving-up dont-give-up pride
Take pride in exactly what it is you do and remember it's okay to fail as long as you don't give up.