Dan O'Brien Quotes

To me, the decathlon is its own little society and I am part of that culture.

Nowadays, to be a good world-ranked decathlete, you need to be good at everything.

I would like to have a decathlon where all of my throws are really consistent and set the tone. That I'm good all-around, not just a speed and jump guy.

I've seen a lot of athletic juggernauts throughout high school, college, even the NFL who can't play the game.

The heptathlon world record is nice, but the decathlon is the event. I think the heptathlon is more like a practice. There is something completely different about the decathlon.

The decathlon is exclusive company.

Being an Olympian is the ultimate test of one's sporting ability.

Speed is more important than endurance in the decathlon.

We have to lie to ourselves as decathletes and say that we like all ten events.

I used to play football for Real Madrid, and to be on stage for two hours, I can tell you it takes the same amount of strength.

We have a rich tradition here in the United States of great decathletes, which is amazing 'cause we have absolutely no program to develop these guys. Zero. There's nothing. They do it on their own, just like I did back in '76.

I don't think anyone chooses the decathlon as much as it chooses you.

During the decathlon, I always think only of the next event and my personal record.

Top athletes are like warriors.

Powerful, quick and agile, Serena Williams thrives on winning.

I ran track in high school. I was a fragile young man, personally and physically. I tried football. That didn't work out; I broke my collarbone. But I always loved running.

Being a decathlete is like having ten girlfriends. You have to love them all, and you can't afford losing one.

I don't think there is a perfect athlete. But if I had to come close to picking someone who demonstrates all the traits that I feel an athlete should have, I would say the perfect athlete would be Tiger Woods. He has the ability, he's humble and he's very good at what he does.

Extraordinary people are the Green Berets and the Navy Seals and the Olympic athletes - these are the ones who can face these extraordinary physical challenges and be triumphant.

Every pitcher can beat you, it doesn't matter how good you are.

I just love playing so much, competing so much. You're able to put your losses behind you. One of the greatest attributes a decathlete can have is the ability to forget... to look ahead, not behind.

You've got to do it all, the physical as well as the skilful.

I started wrestling at ten. I played a lot of other sports: soccer, football. I really enjoyed skiing. But wrestling just took off for me. It seemed to be the sport I had an affinity for; I liked the individual, combative nature. There's something special about that. It took me all the places I wanted to go.

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

The decathlon takes so long to learn that people who are good athletes don't want to go back to the beginning again.