Dan O'Brien Quotes

United States, Combined Track And Field Event Athlete
July 18, 1966

Daniel Dion "Dan" O'Brien is an American former decathlete and Olympic gold medalist. He won the Olympic title in 1996, three consecutive world championships (1991, 1993, 1995), and set the world record in 1992.

Also known as Decathlete

I call myself a chameleon.

Dan O'Brien
- Myself
- Call
- Chameleon
Breaking the world record in '92 was a very special personal moment, but I'd say my favorite moment as a decathlete was winning the Olympic gold medal.

Dan O'Brien
- World
- Winning
- Moment

And there is such a thing as a decathlon high. It's like a rock rolling down hill, picking up momentum. You get better and better.

Dan O'Brien
- Up
- High
- Rock
After the failure in '92, my goal was to be a good pole vaulter. I used that as motivation.

Dan O'Brien
- Good
- Failure
- Goal
When first starting to work with someone you try to get them in the same mindset that you were in when you were successful, and I realized the best thing you can ever do is realize that they are not you. They have a different persona and mindset, and you have to figure out what works best within your communication with that athlete.

Dan O'Brien
- Work
- Different
- Best
Nowadays, to be a good world-ranked decathlete, you need to be good at everything.

Dan O'Brien
- World
- Good
- You
It took me time to realize that the men who won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon are just men, just like me.

Dan O'Brien
- Time
- Men
- Gold
Try everything, because you're never sure what you're going to be great at.

Dan O'Brien
- Great
- You
- Try