[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9628-S9629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SALUTE TO THE WORLD'S GREATEST ATHLETE

 Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute today to 
an Idahoan who has overcome adversity to become an Olympic champion.
  Dan O'Brien of Moscow last night won the Olympic decathlon gold medal 
and set an Olympic record with a score of 8,824 points, the sixth best 
mark

[[Page S9629]]

ever. Success is not new to Dan, but neither is bitter disappointment. 
He has been very successful on the national and even the world level, 
but his dream, an Olympic gold medal, has eluded him.
  By now most sports fans around the world have heard the story of how, 
4 years ago, Dan was one of the favorites for the Barcelona games and 
how he failed to qualify by not clearing any height in the pole vault 
at the Olympic trials in New Orleans.
  Since that crushing result, Dan has shown the determination, hard 
work and drive that embodies the American spirit. He trained like he 
had never trained before. He won the world championships three times 
since the 1992 trials and set the world decathlon record with a score 
of 8,891 points just weeks after the Barcelona games.
  At the Olympics in Atlanta, Dan seized his opportunity. He started 
out well, and claimed the lead after the first day of the 10-event 
competition. The eighth event was his old nemesis, the pole vault. 
Learning the lessons of 4 years ago, Dan cleared a cautious 14 feet, 9 
inches. Gaining in confidence, he vaulted past the height he missed at 
the 1992 trials, and then wound up clearing 16 feet, 4\3/4\ inches to 
score 910 points in the event.
  The ninth event pretty much clinched the gold medal. In his final 
javelin throw, O'Brien recorded his only personal best of the 
competition, with a toss of 219 feet, 6 inches. That gave Dan a 209-
point lead heading into the final event, the 1,500 meters.
  Dan has never liked this race, and although he didn't need to run a 
particularly fast race, he did pick up around the final turn and sprint 
to the finish line. He could then claim redemption for 1992's 
performance.
  Immediately after finishing, Dan broke down in tears. I am sure they 
were tears of joy and triumph. He had finally answered all his critics 
and those who doubted him. He had proven to himself and the world that 
his determination and commitment to be the best would prevail.
  Mr. President, to this fine young man, who I am proud to say 
graduated from the University of Idaho and lives and trains in Moscow, 
I extend my heartfelt congratulations. I know the people of Idaho join 
me in saying ``Well done, Dan'' to the Olympic gold medal champion in 
the decathlon, the world's greatest athlete, Dan O'Brien.

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