Universities are like a utopia in a way, because you're mentally stimulated, you're challenged, and you have a lot of young, creative minds wanting to do new things, different things. Better things.
- Ashton Eaton
New Things, New, Wanting, Stimulated
The first sport I played was baseball. I remember being on the Little League team and someone pitching the ball to me for the first time. I was ready to no longer hit the ball off the tee, and an adult pitched it to me underhand.
- Ashton Eaton
Remember, I Remember, Ball, Little League
A perfect scenario would be to feel like you've just started on every event.
- Ashton Eaton
Perfect, Like, Would, Scenario
The great thing about this is, and not to pump my own tires, but I feel like I'm not maximized yet. I feel like I can still run faster, jump higher, which I think makes it special. Hopefully, going to London, I'll be welcomed into the decathlon community.
- Ashton Eaton
London, Own, I Think, Great Thing
I'm very happy to have set a world record in Tallinn. Estonians sure do love athletics and combined events!
- Ashton Eaton
Love, Very, Set, World Record
The world record is like you we went to the theater to see this movie, and it was really good, and it had an unexpected ending, and you left the theater saying, 'Wow, that was such a great movie.'
- Ashton Eaton
Unexpected, Movie, Like, World Record
I always try to do better than I have before, so I think it would be good to break the world record.
- Ashton Eaton
Think, Always, I Think, World Record
The heptathlon world record is nice, but the decathlon is the event. I think the heptathlon is more like a practice. There is something completely different about the decathlon.
- Ashton Eaton
Practice, Think, I Think, World Record
There's never going to be a decathlon that you're going to have 10 events that your satisfied with. You're always, always going to be dissatisfied in something, and that always draws you back to try to retry that the next time you do a decathlon. It's like you go for the perfect 10.
- Ashton Eaton
Perfect, Next, Always, Next Time
Rather than realizing immediate physiological gain, the challenge is more about reducing the mental attrition from the two days to maximize each event.
- Ashton Eaton
More, Attrition, Rather, Realizing
I dated my first girlfriend for, like, two weeks in high school, and when you're in high school, it's so much different. I wanted to hang out with my friends and play video games and play paintball and do guy stuff. Girls were never around for my friends group.
- Ashton Eaton
Play, Hang, Weeks, Two Weeks
I think watching multi-events is much worse than competing. Especially when you have vested interests because you go through the emotional ups and downs.
- Ashton Eaton
Think, Through, Competing, Vested
My key to dealing with stress is simple: just stay cool and stay focused.
- Ashton Eaton
Stress, Cool, Dealing, Key
I haven't seen kids in years who have holes in the knees of their jeans. Now you go buy jeans with holes in them.
- Ashton Eaton
Go, Buy, Knees, Holes
Know that even when you want to give up or throw in the towel, in the end it will all be worth the hard work.
- Ashton Eaton
Work, Give, Will, In The End
After asking questions about current recovery techniques, the conversation prompted me to ask myself, 'Why does it feel good after running to pour a bottle of water over your head?' I don't know the physiological answer, but the fact that it does feel better makes me perform better.
- Ashton Eaton
Questions, Fact, Asking, Prompted
My goal in Korea is to win. There's no timetable when to set the American record.
- Ashton Eaton
Goal, Set, Korea, Timetable
I compete against myself in competitions anyway, so I train against myself in practice.
- Ashton Eaton
Practice, Compete, Against, Competitions
The questions to ask are, why was the decathlon so popular before, and what happened to make it fade? I notice a lot of things in general tend to follow that up-and-down trend.
- Ashton Eaton
Questions, Trend, Before, Fade
In high school, I had a gold 1992 Ford Explorer. It was a gift. I used to have a terrible habit of locking the keys in the car when I used leave the car running to help it start on a cold morning. I think the local locksmith became used to me calling him.
- Ashton Eaton
Gift, I Think, Became, Explorer
I don't set goals. Competing with a number in your head can be limiting, and I don't know what my capabilities are yet.
- Ashton Eaton
Competing, Set, Capabilities, Goals
That's what has always been good about track. The goal is very clearly defined: Try to win. Get the gold medal. And I'm able to put my energy toward that.
- Ashton Eaton
Always, Been, Very, Defined
I think what's at risk is kids losing touch with being a kid. Being a kid is being defined differently than it was when you didn't have all this stuff you could put in front of your face.
- Ashton Eaton
Think, I Think, Could, Defined
If I won a second Olympic title, maybe I would be tempted to go after a third.
- Ashton Eaton
Third, Olympic, Would, Tempted
I could never be a distance runner, because I can't run for more than ten minutes. There aren't enough iPod gigabytes in the world to make that worth it for me.
- Ashton Eaton
Distance, More, Could, Runner
I must refine my training every day to give myself the best opportunity to achieve my dreams during the Olympic Games in Rio.
- Ashton Eaton
Give, Achieve, Olympic, Rio
In our marriage, the success of our athletic dreams comes before everything. 'Hey do you want to watch a movie?' 'No, I have a hard workout tomorrow.'
- Ashton Eaton
Want, Movie, Before, Hey
When I was growing up, I used to watch 'Power Rangers' and 'Ninja Turtles.' It seemed like every movie had someone doing martial arts in it, so I would go around punching and kicking trees.
- Ashton Eaton
Doing, Movie, Had, Martial Arts
I am actually a huge supporter of the Canadian athletes, and they are all really nice people.
- Ashton Eaton
Athletes, Canadian, Am, Nice People
I remember growing up, having sports to go to, having recess, those were the things I looked forward to. Yes, I'm an athlete, but I had buddies who weren't, and they looked forward to it, too.
- Ashton Eaton
Sports, I Remember, Having, Buddies
I think when the competitions come, I am always ready to go. I don't think I ever have not been.
- Ashton Eaton
Think, Always, Been, Competitions
You're just constantly battling this thing that is telling you, 'I don't think I can do it.' I think we all have it. When you're fresh and alert, you can easily put those doubts down. But when you're tired, they easily come up to the surface.
- Ashton Eaton
I Think, Telling, Battling, Fresh
The opportunity to represent your country at the Olympic Games is earned, not given.
- Ashton Eaton
Country, Given, Olympic, Olympic Games
I'm just happy to be part of the family, the decathlon family.
- Ashton Eaton
Family, Happy, Part, Decathlon
The thing I like about decathlon is also the thing I dislike: It's the maximum challenge, but also the maximum frustration.
- Ashton Eaton
Frustration, Dislike, Like, Decathlon
From the time I started the decathlon, I've loved the event. I didn't know why. I still don't know why.
- Ashton Eaton
Why, Started, Still, Decathlon
Nike came to me and said, 'We're interested in the decathlon and interested in seeing if we can help you get as close to 10,000 points as we can.'
- Ashton Eaton
Help, Nike, Points, Decathlon
I would like to have a decathlon where all of my throws are really consistent and set the tone. That I'm good all-around, not just a speed and jump guy.
- Ashton Eaton
Tone, Like, Set, Decathlon
The decathlon is exclusive company.
- Ashton Eaton
Company, Exclusive, Decathlon
I guess the decathlon's never an easy walkthrough.
- Ashton Eaton
Never, Easy, Guess, Decathlon
Even though decathlon is really long, there's always something different to look forward to, which is great for mental stimulation.
- Ashton Eaton
Always, Which, Though, Decathlon
When I was a junior and an up-and-coming athlete, I don't think I looked to anyone for inspiration. I was so busy trying to improve myself and learning these new events and learning about the decathlon in general that I didn't really have time to focus on anyone else.
- Ashton Eaton
Learning, Focus, About, Decathlon
If I really felt like I was the world's greatest athlete, I'd get 10 great events. But I know that's pretty much not possible. That's the toughness of the decathlon.
- Ashton Eaton
Athlete, Pretty, Like, Decathlon
It's about not going to the well all the time. The body has limits. The mind has limits, too.
- Ashton Eaton
Mind, Going, Too, Limits
I wouldn't have gone to a Division I school if I didn't have scholarship help. We couldn't afford it.
- Ashton Eaton
Help, Division, Afford, Scholarship
What you do is you're using the other competitors to push yourself, because it's so hard to push yourself.
- Ashton Eaton
Other, Competitors, Using, Push
It has been a pleasure being in the same era. I mean, the guy's last name is Bolt, and he's the fastest man ever. You can't write a story like that, and so to be in the pages in there is nice.
- Ashton Eaton
Like, Been, Last, Bolt
To win two Olympic golds in a row like Daley Thompson is very special. One day, I'm going to have to meet Daley, shake his hand, and thank him for giving me something to chase after.
- Ashton Eaton
Shake, Very, Olympic, Row
Every day, we as athletes face several challenges during the training process, and it is imperative that we approach each situation carefully and with continued precision.
- Ashton Eaton
Challenges, Process, Imperative
The Olympic gold was like going to a theater and seeing a movie that had the ending you expected. But you left the theater thinking, 'You know, that was a good movie.'
- Ashton Eaton
Movie, Like, Olympic, Olympic Gold
I'm not much of a gym rat; I'd rather be running, but if it enables me to run faster, then I guess I can tough it out.
- Ashton Eaton
Run, Rat, Rather, Enables
Now that I'm older, I see the benefits of having free time to release energy.
- Ashton Eaton
Release, Benefits, Having, Energy
When I'm on the track, I like hearing the fans cheer me on.
- Ashton Eaton
Me, Like, Track, Hearing
I think that titles are for, I don't know, books and stuff. I just like doing what I'm doing.
- Ashton Eaton
Doing, Think, I Think, Titles
I actually like indoor track and field more than outdoor.
- Ashton Eaton
Field, Like, Actually, Outdoor
Coping with injuries is always difficult for athletes because all we want to do is, basically, to have our best performances unhindered.
- Ashton Eaton
Injuries, Want, Always, Coping
You see somebody on a football field make a great, athletic 70-yard run, but the athleticism is immeasurable. It's undoubtedly athletic, but compared to somebody else who did something else, how do you compare it? That's the great part of track and field. It's a test, but with results that you can compare to others.
- Ashton Eaton
Compare, Football Field, Undoubtedly
As athletes, we love to say, 'Just one more; I'm going to figure it out on this next one.' It's tough to pull back the reins and do what is smart physically, listening to your body and always ending a workout or session feeling like I could have done more.
- Ashton Eaton
Love, Next, Session, Workout
My local newspaper, the 'Bend Bulletin,' interviewed me while I was at high school after I had just signed with the University of Oregon. I remember I wore a University of Oregon hooded sweatshirt, and they took a picture of me in the long jump pit. I was freezing!
- Ashton Eaton
Newspaper, I Remember, Had, Freezing
The more you do, the more attrition you experience.
- Ashton Eaton
Experience, You, More, Attrition
From the age of seven, I basically started practicing my hand-eye and foot coordination, balance, strength, endurance, discipline, and mental toughness three days a week until I was about 15.
- Ashton Eaton
Strength, Week, Practicing, Toughness
It's hard for me to speak of my own development. I'm the one behind the steering wheel, and it is easier to see where the vehicle is going when you are looking at it. For me, it feels like I have been doing the same thing all along.
- Ashton Eaton
Behind, Been, Feels, Steering
I don't have one specific person that I think is the most athletic person.
- Ashton Eaton
Think, I Think, Most, Athletic
If I have to run to put myself in the hospital, if I have to run that hard, that's how hard I'll have to run.
- Ashton Eaton
Myself, Run, How, Hospital
For me, I want 10 perfect events.
- Ashton Eaton
Me, Want, Perfect, Events
It would be fantastic to spend your whole life trying to pursue something and then finally, at the last moment, you achieve it. You know, instead of getting it in the middle of the pursuit and spending the second half giving it meaning.
- Ashton Eaton
Achieve, Pursuit, Half, Fantastic
I think a challenge for myself is to see how many times I can get above 9,000. That would be a good challenge.
- Ashton Eaton
Myself, Think, I Think, How Many Times
When I'm later in the competition, I get antsy. I'm seeing everybody else go and achieve things. It's like I'm just twiddling my thumbs.
- Ashton Eaton
Achieve, Like, Everybody, Everybody Else
You try to figure out the best way to throw the shot put, or the perfect way to long jump, and you don't ever get it. You just chip away, chip away, chip away as time goes on.
- Ashton Eaton
Best Way, Figure, Chip, Jump
I would say 90 percent of the stuff we do is technical anyway. If you look at a two-hour training day, 12 minutes are probably spent running or gaining fitness.
- Ashton Eaton
Minutes, Technical, Gaining, Anyway
When you have an injury, you are hindered a little bit.
- Ashton Eaton
You, Little Bit, Bit, Injury
When you're doing any event on an elite level, you're in tune with your body.
- Ashton Eaton
Doing, Level, Your, Elite
As a decathlete, you take pride in saying, 'The elements, I'm not going to let them affect me. It's just the 11th event. Another thing you have to fight through.'
- Ashton Eaton
Through, Going, Affect, Elements
I was one of those kids who, everything I tried sports-related, I liked.
- Ashton Eaton
Everything, Tried, Those, I Tried
We all understand that this isn't about me beating you and you beating me. It's about each individual competing against himself.
- Ashton Eaton
Competing, Individual, Beating
That is when the crowd really lifted me. That last 600 meters I was not running with my own legs. It was incredible.
- Ashton Eaton
Crowd, My Own, Last, Lifted
I won't back down. I get a satisfaction from being tested and defeating the test.
- Ashton Eaton
Test, Tested, Get, Satisfaction
Track and field is tougher physically, but golf is tougher mentally.
- Ashton Eaton
Golf, Field, Physically, Track And Field
I do the whole 10-event thing, but at the end of the day, it's still track and field.
- Ashton Eaton
End Of The Day, Field, Still, Track And Field
I was never interested in golf until someone brought up the Get Golf Ready program to me.
- Ashton Eaton
Golf, Never, Brought, Ready
I had a dream, my dream came true, and my mom was there for me every step of the way. We didn't do this for any other reason. I am so happy she is here to experience this with me. This would not be the same if she were not by my side.
- Ashton Eaton
Reason, Here, Other, Step
I haven't played a full round of golf yet, but I did make two pars my first time out on a golf course.
- Ashton Eaton
Two, Out, Played, Round
I am not the one who has to try to beat me.
- Ashton Eaton
I Am, Me, Try, Beat
The desire definitely comes from within. There are only a few people who make it to this level and those are the ones who have that innate desire.
- Ashton Eaton
Desire, Level, Within, Few People
The first pet I remember was a cat called Baby. She would sleep with me, and I could call her from anywhere, and she would come running.
- Ashton Eaton
I Remember, Come, Could, Cat
I'm a 'what's next?' guy. I don't know what that is, but I'm excited to find out and put the same kind of energy into it as I put into track.
- Ashton Eaton
Kind, Excited, Next, Track
As you get older and gain more experience, you're able to do multiple things. You don't necessarily have to focus so hard on your performance in order to have a good one.
- Ashton Eaton
Focus, More, Multiple, Performance
Even if you see a great performance, it's not always great getting there. There are injuries... Intrinsically or unconsciously, people understand that - people see those performances, and they know there are stories behind that.
- Ashton Eaton
Behind, Always, Stories, Performance
What I feel like I'm doing is showing people what is humanly possible when someone commits their entire life to something.
- Ashton Eaton
Doing, Feel, Like, Showing
My biggest competitor? Myself, mentally.
- Ashton Eaton
Myself, Competitor, Biggest, Mentally
I want to see where I measure up against everyone in the world and everyone who has ever competed in the sport, and there's that innate sense of wanting to challenge myself. I'm competitive in all aspects.
- Ashton Eaton
Everyone, Against, Wanting, Innate
When I see my mom in the stands, it always pushes me to succeed.
- Ashton Eaton
See, Always, Stands, Pushes
As an athlete, you really see a lot of the Instagram paradigm. Where it's just like, 'Me! Me! Me!' When you realize you can 'Give, Give, Give,' it's very interesting, and it's good.
- Ashton Eaton
Athlete, Give, Very, Instagram
My mom took me to a taekwondo class, and I fell in love. I was seven years old.
- Ashton Eaton
Love, Old, Took, Fell
The strong ones are the ones who realize that having a bad training day, those types of days are necessary.
- Ashton Eaton
Strong, Bad, Having, Types
My mom and I have been through a lot. But when you think about it, whose life is perfect? It is just really good because we did this together.
- Ashton Eaton
Think, Through, Been, Whose
We are competing against ourselves.
- Ashton Eaton
Against, Ourselves, Competing
The only thing I want to think about the moments before a race is competing. I don't want the little things to distract me.
- Ashton Eaton
Little Things, Think, Race, Competing
I'm a second-degree black belt.
- Ashton Eaton
Black, Belt
I can't remember when I wasn't running around doing some sort of a sporting activity.
- Ashton Eaton
Doing, Some, Activity, Remember When
I thought it'd be cool to start my own university, in a way.
- Ashton Eaton
Cool, Thought, My Own, University
If somebody wants me to do something I've never done, I can do it more easily because of all of the years of sports I've played.
- Ashton Eaton
Sports, Done, More, Easily
That's what we want people to do. Select a goal or gold and go after it.
- Ashton Eaton
Goal, Gold, Want, Select
To be with the other two-time gold medalists is great, but it's great to just be a decathlete.
- Ashton Eaton
Great, Other, Just Be, Gold
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