Dan O'Brien
Dan O'Brien
American decathlete who won an Olympic Gold medal in 1996, as well as titles at the World Championships in Athletics.
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionDecathlete
Date of Birth18 July 1966
CityPortland, OR
CountryUnited States of America
college track fans
I got interested in decathlon because a coach that I had was a big fan of Bruce Jenner, and he just saw the ability in me - but when it came down to it, I knew my best chance at a college scholarship would be in track and field.
motivational athlete men
It took me time to realize that the men who won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon are just men, just like me.
writing winter house
You can only look forward to a South Dakota winter if, as with childbirth, remodeling a house, or writing a novel, you're able to forget how bad it was the last time.
fun athlete winning
As a young athlete, it was first about having fun; then it was about winning.
rocks get-better rolling
And there is such a thing as a decathlon high. It's like a rock rolling down hill, picking up momentum. You get better and better.
pain children way
As a young child, I was never a crier. I never cried to get my way, or even when I was in pain.
thinking perfect safety
I think what my parents did was perfect. They were strict, concerned about my safety and held me back just a little.
divorce single-life cost
You know why divorce costs so much? Because it is worth it!
single-life scissors knows
I always know where the scissors are.
dream winning jail
Through everything I've gone through- and I've been everywhere, at the top of the world, in jail, hung over drunk - I never gave up my dream of winning a gold medal in the Olympics.
hype cereal breakfast
When I was little, I wasn't allowed to put sugar on my breakfast cereal because it made me so hyper.
people major-league gauges
We'll probably only consider a handful of individuals. We'll bring up people who can accumulate either innings or at-bats, so we can hopefully gauge where they stand as a prospective Major Leaguer.
hang overcome perseverance
The only way to overcome is to hang in.
american-athlete
If you never give up, you'll be successful.