USA's Ashton Eaton successfully defended his decathlon title by breaking his own world record* with a score of 9045 at the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015.
The Olympic champion led from the outset after clocking 10.23 in the first event, the 100m. After solid marks in the long jump (7.88m), shot put (14.52m) and high jump (2.01m), he ended the first day with a world decathlon best of 45.00 in the 400m.
He continued to lead throughout the second day, clocking 13.69 in the 110m hurdles, throwing 43.34m in the discus, clearing 5.20m in the pole vault and throwing 63.63m in the javelin. After nine events, his score was already 8216.
Going into the final event, the 1500m, he needed to run 4:18.25 to break his world record of 9039. He seemed to be some way off the pace with a lap to go, but he kicked hard in the closing stages to cross the line in 4:17.52.
It gave him a score of 9045 and, thanks to the support of IAAF partner TDK, earned him a world record bonus of US $100,000.