CO Coach wrote:
The US "system" seems poorly suited for the multi-events, neither our decathletes or heptathletes did well this Olympics. Countries that have more national level support in terms of coaching, facilities etc seem much better positioned to compete at this level.
Historically the USA has been very successful in the decathlon. Athletes like Ashton Eaton, Trey Hardee, Bryan Clay, Dan O’Brien, Bruce Jenner, and Bill Toomey all have won gold at the olympics. The heptathlon is heralded by Jackie Joyner Kersee who has two golds. That is about as much success as a nation can ask for. We can’t always win. That said I hope in the next olympics we will return to our winning ways.