Feats of Clay: A look back at the Beijing Gold medalist

By Chris Martin, 1998 graduate of Azusa Pacific University (APU)

Years of training and preparation paid off for Bryan Clay, a 2003 graduate of Azusa Pacific University (Calif.), at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, as he won the gold medal in the decathlon. Many consider the 2-day, 1- event competition the standard for determining the World's Greatest Athlete.

"It's been a while since we had the gold medal brought back to the United States," Clay said in an interview on the NBC's Today show following his win. "I feel proud and honored to bring back to America the title of World's Greatest Athlete."

The tradition of referring to the decathlon gold medalist as the World's Greatest Athlete dates back to the 1912 Stockholm Olympics when Sweden's King Gustav V said to Jim Thorpe, the decathlete winner, "You, sir, are the World's Greatest Athlete." Clay joins a group of distinguished Americans to hold this title, including Bruce Jenner, Rafer Johnson, Bob Mathias, and Dan O'Brien, whose U.S. Olympic trials record Clay bested in June with a score of 8,832 points.

Clay faced greater adversity than expected on this path to gold as heavy rains plagued much of the first day's events, threatening to mar the 5' 10", 183-pound athlete's speed advantage. But he erased any concerns by winning the opening event, the 100 meters. He followed that with a second place in the long jump, despite a continuing drizzle. Clay expanded his lead with a second-place finish in the shot put, earned when he launched the 16-pould orb a lifetime-best distance of 53' 41/2" (16.27m). After three events, Clay had amassed 2,862 points, placing him 145 points ahead of his nearest competitor.

"Bryan came into the Games with a great deal of confidence, and it showed in his performance from the very first event onward," said Clay's lead coach Kevin Reid, assistant professor of physical education and head men's and track and field coach (at Azusa Pacific University). "He had prepared for this event for eight years and was ready to go."

After a scheduled four-hour layoff, Clay completed the first day with average scores in the high jump and 400 meters, which allowed two competitors to creep within 100 points of his 4,521 total.

On day two, Clay expanded his lead to such an extent that he could not be caught by the final event of the competition. His highlights for the day included his season best in the pole vault at 16' 43/4" (5.00m), followed by another season best in the javelin at 232' 10" (70.97m). He also achieved an Olympic record for a discus throw in the decathlon, which became the moment that essentially sealed the gold medal. By finishing with a 240-point lead over the second-place opponent, Clay also secured the most substantial decathlon win since the 1972 Munich Games.

"It was incredible to watch," said Mike Barnett, Clay's throws coach and Azusa Pacific University's head women's track and field coach. After working with Clay for 10 years, developing his weightlifting regimen and refining his technique, Barnett felt like a proud parent. "A lot of team effort when into training Bryan. He's a phenomenal athlete. He came prepared and confident, and he accomplished his goal."

Clay attributes much of his success to a group he calls Team Clay, which comprises the many people who support his training and goals. In addition to his wife, Sarah, key members include Reid, Barnett, and Rana Reider, a specialties coach.

"My coaches were absolutely amazing over the past four years," Clay said on Today. "It was a thrilling journey, and we've been working on this for so very long."

Reid believes the planning Team Clay brings to the regimen distinguishes Clay from many decathletes. "We approach training differently than most decathletes," said Reid. "We have a number of specialists to work with every aspect of Bryan's training with the final goal of getting him ready to compete in top physical condition."

According to Philip D. Ford, Ph.D, ATC, PES, associate professor of exercise and sport science, track and field athletes often follow a principle of training known as periodization in which they develop a personalized plan for effective training. This plan takes into account the physical and mental effects of high-intensity training in order to allow for proper rest.

"The body can only withstand so much training. An elite athlete needs a detailed training plan in order to peak at the right time," said Ford. "Bryan is a phenomenal athlete, and the plan he and his coaches put in place allowed him to peak in not only the power events, but also the aerobics and endurance events."

Clay's track and field career at APU included an NAIA-record 23 All-American honors as well team titles at the 2002 NAIA indoor and outdoor track and field finals. But he gained more than athletic accolades during his college years. He credits his time at APU as the turning point in his spiritual life - the time when he accepted the Christian faith.

After graduating from Azusa Pacific University, Clay won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. His friend Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic won the gold in Athens, and according to Reid, Clay's second-place finish there provided him with extra motivation as he trained for Beijing.

"The Beijing Olympics provided a great culmination of the past eight years for Bryan and all of us," said Reid. "The plan was always to prepare for 2008, and everything Bryan achieved along the way brought him the confidence that he could bring home the gold."