Episode #5

It’s not often you get to speak with the greatest athlete in the world, and pick his brain about coaching, practice habits, multi-sport participation, parental and coaching influences, staying on top of your game, and so much more. This week John sits down with world record holder and 2x Olympic Gold Medalist Ashton Eaton for some timeless advice for athletes of all sports and ages.

Ashton Eaton is a retired American decathlete and two-time Olympic champion, who holds the world record in both the decathlon and indoor heptathlon events. Ashton competed for the University of Oregon, where he was a five-time NCAA champion, and won The Bowerman award in 2010. In 2011, he won the first international medal of his career, a silver, in the decathlon at the 2011 World Championships. The following year, Eaton broke his own world record in the heptathlon at the 2012 World Indoor Championships, and then broke the world record in the decathlon at the Olympic Trials. After setting the world record, Eaton won the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He successfully defended his Olympic title in Rio 2016 by winning the decathlon gold medal and tying the Olympic record. Eaton is only the third Olympian (Bob Mathias of the US and Britain’s Daley Thompson being the other two.) to achieve back-to-back gold medals in the decathlon.

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How to find Ashton:

Website: Ashton and Brianne’s Website

Twitter: @weareeaton @ashtonjeaton

Ashton’s First Pole Vault: Ashton’s First Pole Vault

Show Notes

5:00 – On single sport vs. multi-sport athletes

8:00 – On “why you shouldn’t eat the same thing every day”

12:00 – When Ashton started the Decathlon – It was later than you think!

18:40 – Ashton’s “Rule of One Moment” in his early career

21:00 – On parents of elite athletes – Pushy Parents vs. Supportive Parents

23:00 – Is It About Winning?