FROM LEFT: DEEDEE TROTTER, ALLYSON FELIX, FRANCENA MCCORORY, SANYA RICHARDS-ROSS
Kirby Lee
Ashton Eaton: One of the greatest seasons by a multi- event athlete in history, in 2012 Ashton Eaton completed a total of three heptathlons or decathlons. In the process he set two world records and won an Olympic gold medal. The most recent of which happened in London where Eaton won the decathlon with a total score of 8,869 points, bringing the titles of “World’s Greatest Athlete” back to the U.S. for the second straight Olympic Games.
Women’s 4x400M: DeeDee Trotter, Allyson Felix, Francena McCorory and Sanya Richards-Ross left little doubt in winning the women’s 4x400m relay in a time of 3:16.87. It was the third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the event for Richards-Ross and gave Felix her third gold medal at the London Olympic Games.
Brittney Reese: Winning Olympic gold in the women’s long jump validated a run of dominance in the event for Brittney Reese. Dating back to the 2009 World Outdoor Championships in Berlin, Reese has won five consecutive World Outdoor, World Indoor and Olympic Games gold medals.
Christian Taylor: Christian Taylor burst onto the scene as a surprise gold medalist at the 2011 World Outdoor Championships in the men’s triple jump. He arrived in London with different expectations and delivered another gold medal with a jump of 17.81m/58-5.25, which was the farthest jump in the world in 2012. Following the Olympic Games Taylor owned the top three jumps in the world.