Ashton Eaton

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!

I actually like indoor track and field more than outdoor.

Track and field is tougher physically, but golf is tougher mentally.

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'.

A perfect scenario would be to feel like you've just started on every event.

It's about not going to the well all the time. The body has limits. The mind has limits, too.

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

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.

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

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.

We are competing against ourselves.

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.

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

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.