Dan
O'Brien

Olympian 1996

1
GOLD

0
SILVER

0
BRONZE

Athlete Bio#

Age

Hometown

Klamath Falls, OR

Education

Henle High School (Klamath Falls, Ore.) University of Idaho

Quick Facts

Adopted at age 2
Won four state track titles at Henle High School and earned all-state honors in football and basketball
Won three world championships and five national championships throughout track career
Serves as on-field emcee for every major USA Track & Field event
Host and celebrity athlete for USATF’s Win with Integrity Program
Motivational speaker and color commentator for CBS, ESPN and NBC
Served as assistant volunteer coach at Arizona State University.

Olympic Experience

1-time Olympian; 1-time Olympic medalist (1 gold)

Olympic Games Atlanta 1996, gold (Decathlon - Men)

World Championships Experience

Most recent: 1995 – gold (Decathlon - Men)
Years of participation: Decathlon - Men 1993, 1995; Heptathlon (Indoor) - Men 1993
Medals: 3 (2 gold, 1 silver)

Gold – 1995 (Decathlon - Men); 1993 (Decathlon - Men)
Silver – 1993 (Heptathlon (Indoor) - Men)

Athlete News#

After A Break From Track And Field, Garrett Scantling Is Back For A Shot At The Olympic Decathlon
...
Jun 16, 2021

Hall Of Fame Bio #

Dan O’Brien is an American former decathlete and Olympic gold medalist at the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996, the first American winner in the event since 1976. Born in Portland, O’Brien was adopted at the age of 2 and won four state track titles, while earning all-state honors in football and basketball. A three-time world champion, O’Brien overcame a number of challenges, including Attention Deficit Disorder, a stress fracture and a drinking problem. O’Brien won the decathlon at the 1994 Goodwill Games and later, the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996. The University of Idaho named its track and field facility the Dan O’Brien Track & Field Complex in 1996. O’Brien later worked as a motivational speaker, color commentator and guest analyst. He also worked closely with the United States Olympic Committee as part of its Olympic Ambassador Program to mentor younger athletes.