London Olympics 2012 | Track and field

U.S. athlete Ashton Eaton is congratulated by Germany’s Rico Freimuth, left, after Eaton won the gold medal in the decathlon.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Gold medal winner Ashton Eaton, left, and silver medalist Trey Hardee, both of the United States, hold up the American flag after winning the men’s decathlon competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Ashton Eaton hurls himself over the bar in the pole vault competition of the decathlon. Eaton took home the gold medal, while teammate Trey Hardee took silver.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. athlete Christian Taylor competes in the men’s triple jump final where he eventually finished with a gold medal.  (Matt Dunham / Associated Press)

Triple jump gold medal winner Christian Taylor, left, and silver medal winner Will Claye, both of the United States, carry the American flag after their competition Thursday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt celebrates his gold medal win in the men’s 200 meters at the 2012 London Olympics on Thursday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt gestures after winning the men’s 200 meter ahead of two of his countrymen at the 2012 Olympic Games.  (Christophe Ena / Associated Press)

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt kisses the finish line his gold medal win in the men’s 200 meters.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, center, and countrymen Yohan Blake, left, and Warren Weir celebrate their medals in the men’s 200 meter final. Bolt won gold, Blake, silver and Weir, bronze.  (David J. Phillip / Associated Press)

U.S. athlete Wallace Spearmon, left, watches the replay after finishing fourth in the men’s 200 meters, behind three Jamaicans.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

United States’ Will Claye competes in the men’s triple jump final. He took home a silver medal behind fellow American Christian Taylor.  (Matt Dunham / Associated Press)

Kenya’s David Lekuta Rudisha wins the gold medal and breaks the world record in the men’s 800 meters.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Kenya’s gold medalist David Lekuta Rudisha on Thursday won the men’s 800 meters in a world record time of 1:40.91.  (Olivier Morin / AFP / Getty Images)