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Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11

Ashton Eaton ties Olympic record, but it’s Bolt’s show again

Usain Bolt from Jamaica celebrates winning the gold medal in the men's 200-meter final ahead during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Usain Bolt from Jamaica celebrates winning the gold medal in the men's 200-meter final ahead during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Usain Bolt from Jamaica celebrates winning the gold medal in the men's 200-meter final ahead during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Ashton Eaton retained his title as the best all-around athlete in the world by tying the decathlon Olympic record in Rio de Janeiro – but within minutes, track and field’s ultimate superstar took back the center stage again.

What more could the now two-time Olympic champion Eaton do Thursday night to get just a little sliver of the limelight that beams so brightly on Usain Bolt?

Not much. But the ever-gracious Eaton is OK with that.

“I had the pleasure of being in the same era as Usain Bolt,” Eaton said. “I mean, the guy’s last name is Bolt. He’s the fastest man ever. You can’t write a story like that.”

You can try.