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Ashton Eaton breaks decathlon world record, wins World Championship

Ashton Eaton broke his world record in the decathlon by 9,045 points in winning the World Championship in Beijing on Saturday.

Eaton, who first broke the 10-event world record at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials and then won the 2012 Olympic title, prevailed in the Bird’s Nest in his first decathlon since he captured the 2013 World title.

Eaton needed to run the final event, the 1500m, in 4:18.25 to break his world record. He clocked 4:17.52, collapsing after lunging through the finish line.

Eaton had taken 2014 off from the decathlon, since there were no World Championships or Olympics that year, and withdrew before his previous decathlon this year with a lower back injury May 30.