Eaton looking for a family success story

AFP/Sopot, Poland

US heptathlete Ashton Eaton is hoping familiarity breeds more success as he competes at the same times as wife Brianne Thiesen at the World Indoor Championships today.

While Eaton warms up for his opening 60m sprint, Thiesen, in the colours of her native Canada, will be racing the 60m hurdles, the first of her five events in the day’s pentathlon.

Likewise, when Eaton is propelling himself into the long jump sand pit, his wife will first be high jumping and then competing in the shot put, the disciplines reversed for each athlete in the afternoon session.

It is a situation that does not bother Eaton, the current world and Olympic decathlon champion, defending indoor heptathlon champion, and world record holder in both the decathlon and heptathlon.

“My coach will definitely be the most tired tomorrow!” Eaton joked of Harry Mara, the coach the pair have both trained with since 2009.

“I think this is the first time we’ve done a world indoor championships together, the first time we’ve competed at the same time in such close proximity.