World record holder and defending Olympic gold medalist Ashton Eaton kicks off his Rio Games on Wednesday with Day 1 of the decathlon, the 10-event, two-day competition of speed, strength and endurance -- and athleticism and mental fortitude and everything else ... the decathlon is hard.
Rio 2016 track and field schedule: Ashton Eaton kicks off defense of decathlon title, women race for gold in 200 meters
That, plus Usain Bolt races the semifinal of the 200 meters and Team USA’s Evan Jager races for a medal in the men’s steeplechase on Wednesday in Rio.
With all the accolades on his resume already, all that’s really left for Eaton to do is prove just how dominant he is one more time. If Eaton wins, he’d join Great Britain’s Daley Thompson (1980 and 1984) and the United States’ Bob Mathias (1948 and 1952) as the only two-time winners in the event.
On Day 1, the decathletes will compete in the 100 meters, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400 meters. They’ll come back on Thursday to compete in the 110 meters hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500 meters.
Other action on Wednesday includes the women’s 200 meters, where the reigning world champion, the Netherlands’ Dafne Schippers, will face the 100-meter gold medalist, Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson.
In the other final on Wednesday evening, the U.S. women have three medal hopefuls in the 100-meter hurdles.
In the morning session, American Evan Jager could bring home the first U.S. medal in the men’s steeplechase -- one of the most exciting events on the track -- since 1984. Emma Coburn won the Americans’ first all-time medal in the women’s event on Monday, finishing third.
Usain Bolt steps on the track one more time, this time in the semifinals of the 200 meters.
All events will be streaming live -- here’s a schedule and how you can watch them all:
Schedule for Wednesday, August 17
All times Eastern and medal events are in bold. All events broadcast on NBC and NBCSN.
Morning session (online stream)
8:30 a.m. - Men’s decathlon: 100 meters
8:40 a.m. - Men’s hammer throw: Qualifications
9:05 a.m. - Men’s 5,000 meters: Round 1
9:35 a.m. - Men’s decathlon: Long jump
9:55 a.m. - Women’s 800 meters: Round 1
10:55 a.m. - Men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase: Final
11:15 a.m. - Men’s decathlon: Shot put
4:45 p.m. - Men’s decathlon: High jump
Evening session (online stream)
7:30 p.m. - Men’s javelin throw: Qualifications
7:45 p.m. - Women’s 100-meter hurdles: Semifinals
8:15 p.m. - Women’s long jump: Final
8:20 p.m. - Men’s decathlon: 400 meters
9:00 p.m. - Men’s 200 meters: Semifinals
9:30 p.m. - Women’s 200 meters: Final
9:55 p.m. - Women’s 100-meter hurdles: Final
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