Quotes from Ashton Eaton

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.

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.

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.'

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.

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.

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.

My mom took me to a taekwondo class, and I fell in love. I was seven years old.

I won't back down. I get a satisfaction from being tested and defeating the test.

My key to dealing with stress is simple: just stay cool and stay focused.

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.

The thing I like about decathlon is also the thing I dislike: It's the maximum challenge, but also the maximum frustration.

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.

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.

That's what we want people to do. Select a goal or gold and go after it.

I haven't played a full round of golf yet, but I did make two pars my first time out on a golf course.

When I see my mom in the stands, it always pushes me to succeed.

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.

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.

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.

Rather than realizing immediate physiological gain, the challenge is more about reducing the mental attrition from the two days to maximize each event.

I must refine my training every day to give myself the best opportunity to achieve my dreams during the Olympic Games in Rio.

I always try to do better than I have before, so I think it would be good to break the world record.

I'm very happy to have set a world record in Tallinn. Estonians sure do love athletics and combined events!

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.