Double gold medallist Eaton looks to push performance limits with science in retirement

Record ID: 1562228

  • Title: Double gold medallist Eaton looks to push performance limits with science in retirement
  • Date: 15th July 2020
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (FILE - AUGUST 19, 2016) (REUTERS) EATON BEING INTERVIEWED
  • Embargoed: 29th July 2020 05:10
  • Keywords: Ashton Eaton Canada Intel Japan Olympics Rio 2016 USA athletics decathlon sport technology track and field
  • Location: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL / SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA
  • City: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL / SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Athletics,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA009CMX50SF
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Two-time Olympic decathlon gold medallist Ashton Eaton has turned to science and engineering for his post-athletic career but the American former world record holder told Reuters he has found a way to straddle both worlds.
    Eaton, who retired from athletics in 2017, is studying for a second degree in mechanical engineering and is also part of a project with U.S. tech firm Intel aimed at helping athletes squeeze every last bit of performance out of their bodies.
    "Ultimately (I) decided I wanted to learn the fundamentals of science and engineering," Eaton said on Tuesday (July 14).
    "(Intel) asked if I would like to join the project and I just saw it as an awesome opportunity to mix what I knew with my passion about learning about science and tech."
    The 32-year-old said the project is focused on using technology to show athletes the difference between how they think their body is performing and the actual measurable data.
    The technology is already being used to help athletes who are having to adjust training schedules ahead of the rearranged Tokyo Olympics, which were supposed to start this month but have been pushed back a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
    In addition to his two Olympic golds at London and Rio, Eaton also set the decathlon world record of 9,045 points in 2015, though this was later beaten by Frenchman Kevin Mayer.
    (Production: Jack Tarrant)
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