Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The 2012 Olympic Trials: Ashton Eaton, For the Gold!

Hi Everyone, thank you again for your responses to my last post. I really appreciate the love :). In continuance with my post yesterday, is a part two about Ashton Eaton. His story is a truly remarkable one that I wanted to highlight.

On the date of this shoot, at the end of the 1,500 meter race, Ashton Eaton became a decathlete, but not just any decathlete. Rising above the highest point level ever set for a decathelte; that day, Ashton Eaton, captured and now holds the world's record for the completion of 10 Olympic events in 2 days....and he did it on the 100th anniversary of the first decathlete's success.

Easton made history by competing and successfully accomplishing, by Olympic standards; the 100 meter, the 400 meter, the long jump, the 110 meter hurdles, the shot put, the discus, the high jump, the pole vault, the javelin, and finally winning first in the 1,500 meter race.

In a breathtaking effort, Eaton, stepped on to the Olympic field for the 1,500 meter race to compete in the final Olympic event that would give him a place in history. Thousands of eyes landed on him as the starting gun was shot. Pacing his stride, in a relentless battle even against bursts of rain and wind, 4:14.48 minutes later Eaton crossed the finishing point, breaking even his own personal best for the race.

Just as he crossed the mark, even his competition cheered and embraced Eaton for beating them to the line. The shock of emotion that ran through Eaton was instantaneous and overwhelming. He brought his hands to his face and his head in a moment of complete awe in his accomplishment. Tears poured down his face as his fiance, Brianne Theisen, an Olympic heptathlon herself, embraced him in congratulations. Moments later Eaton walked to his coach, Harry Marra, to clutch his sleeve as Marra, in a broken voice, expressed his heartbreaking pride in Eaton. Former decathlete winner, Bruce Jenner, joined them, to give his congratulations and embraced Marra for his part.

Eaton proceeded to walk by the stands as thousands cried his praises. He held up his hands in the shape of an "O" to represent Oregon University, and then, flag in hand, pressed his fingers to his lips in another moment of disbelief. I still get goosebumps from it.

After being awarded, Eaton was interviewed on the Track Town Nike stage for his accomplishment, and a fan pressed a shoe into his hands, pleading him to sign it. He happily did, and I happily captured it. What a day!



2 comments:

  1. Nice job! I was one of those in the photographers area!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, that's fantastic! We're you one of the photogs in the photo I took of the pit? Please, send me an email if you can, that's a great coincidence!

    ReplyDelete