Theisen-Eaton becomes first Canadian to win an Olympic medal in heptathlon
Recovering from a difficult first day, Brianne Theisen-Eaton reeled in three competitors on Saturday to win a bronze medal in the heptathlon with 6653 points.
It’s the first combined events women’s medal in Canadian Olympic history. It’s also Canada’s first combined events medal since Dave Steen won decathlon bronze at Seoul 1988.
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Canada’s Brianne Theisen-Eaton, left, celebrates her bronze medal finish in front of gold medallist Nafissatou Thiam, of Belgium, in the women’s heptathlon at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Coming down to the last two of the seven events over two days, Theisen-Eaton found the strength she needed to get on the podium after ending Friday in sixth place.
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Theisen-Eaton clawed back up to fifth on Saturday after the long jump, but it was in the javelin that she came through with a clutch performance that put her back into medals at third place.
After Katarina Johnson-Thompson of Great Britain struggled to get a solid distance on her throw, and despite Akela Jones of Barbados launching a personal best of 42 metres, Theisen-Eaton stepped up when her time came and launched the projectile a stunning 47.36m, gaining the points required to leap over both Johnson-Thompson and Jones in the standings with one event remaining.
Brianne Theisen Eaton, Rio 2016. August 13, 2016. COC Photo/David Jackson.
It was then in the 800m that Theisen-Eaton secured the bronze medal for Canada, clocking in at 2:09.50 and keeping her challengers close.
Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium won heptathlon at Rio 2016 with 6810 points. The relative newcomer gifted herself Olympic gold six days shy of her 22nd birthday.
Defending Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill was second with 6775 points for Great Britain.
The heptathlon combines the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin and 800m over two days, with points awarded for each event based on performance.
