During the decathlon, I always think only of the next event and my personal record.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
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.
When I lost my decathlon world record I took it like a man. I only cried for ten hours.
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.
I'm competitive. I like to compete, and that's basically what the decathlon lets me do.
I enter myself in races. I did a triathlon, and I have done a marathon a couple of times.
The decathlon includes ten separate events and they all matter. You can't work on just one of them.
I don't think anyone chooses the decathlon as much as it chooses you.
Even though decathlon is really long, there's always something different to look forward to, which is great for mental stimulation.
For me, I've not really focused on a world record. I'm just trying to put a complete race together, and when I do that, then fast times will come.
I never think about records. I focus on my race and try to get onto the podium consistently. It's hard enough to do that.