Word: decathlon
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1990-1999
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
This was not the way the script was supposed to turn out. Dave Johnson and Dan O'Brien, the rival U.S. decathlon stars who have been battling for three years to see who would capture the "world's greatest athlete" laurels in Barcelona, last week met on a rain-soaked track at Azusa Pacific University outside Los Angeles to film a hastily rewritten Reebok shoe ad. As they waited for the cameras to roll, their conversation remained on emotionally safe subjects like new golf clubs. There was no discussion of O'Brien's memorable miss in the pole vault...
...Olympic veteran, the 29-year-old Johnson had battle-tested nerves. O'Brien did not. "I've walked this road for a decade," explains Johnson. "I expect what comes along." Bruce Jenner, the 1976 decathlon gold medalist and the last of 10 Americans to win the event at the Olympics, concurs. "What makes Dave Johnson stand out is that he knows how to win," says Jenner. "That is crucial. You've got to be the best you can be on that given day -- and know...
Although O'Brien will not be down on the track, he intends to send a pointed message to his rivals, Johnson included. Just before the Olympic decathlon, O'Brien will compete in a meet in Stockholm. The idea O'Brien has involves clearing his opening height in the pole vault. That done, he plans to put up a score that no competitor could top at the Olympics. If Dan sets a new world record, it will still be a small consolation. Dan can settle nothing in Barcelona. Dave can grab the gold...
...Decathlon...
...Ueberroth, who used to run a string of travel agencies, seemed to be everywhere at all times, as if competing in some private decathlon. HIs favorite line for reporters, repeated right up until the closing ceremonies, was `So far so good'. . . Ueberroth dominated the scene to such an extent that one of the I.O.C. president's underlings was overheard referring to him as 'Ueberralles...