Warner reflects on Olympic decathlon withdrawal

PARIS – Four-time Olympian Damian Warner says withdrawing from nan Olympic men’s decathlon title successful Paris was for illustration a “worst nightmare travel true.”

The 34-year-old from London, Ont., fell retired of contention successful nan decathlon’s third-to-last arena connected Saturday erstwhile he grounded to clear nan barroom connected immoderate of his 3 attempts successful nan rod vault.

Warner says he warmed up well, but that a alteration successful winds and a incorrect prime of rod dashed his hopes of defending nan golden badge he won successful nan arena astatine nan Tokyo 2020 Games.

He said he considered finishing nan title but decided to driblet retired because that’s nan determination astir apt to thief him grow.

Warner was looking to go conscionable nan 4th two-time Olympic golden medallist successful nan men’s decathlon. He would person joined nan institution of American Bob Mathias (1948, 1952), Britain’s Daley Thompson (1980, 1984) and American Ashton Eaton (2012, 2016).

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Warner says he hopes to study from nan acquisition and beryllium amended successful nan future, including astatine adjacent year’s world diversion championships successful Japan.

This study by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2024.