Advertisement

Olympic power couple: Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

Amber Matsumoto
  • <p>Canada’s Brianne Theisen Eaton is greeted by husband Ashton Eaton after the women’s heptathlon 800-meter heat during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) </p>
    1/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Canada’s Brianne Theisen Eaton is greeted by husband Ashton Eaton after the women’s heptathlon 800-meter heat during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

  • <p>Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada celebrates with her husband U.S Olympian Ashton Eaton after the 800 metres during the women’s heptathlon during the Hypo Meeting Gotzis 2015 at the Mosle Stadiom on May 31, 2015 in Gotzis, Austria. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images) </p>
    2/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada celebrates with her husband U.S Olympian Ashton Eaton after the 800 metres during the women’s heptathlon during the Hypo Meeting Gotzis 2015 at the Mosle Stadiom on May 31, 2015 in Gotzis, Austria. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

  • <p>Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada is congratulated by her husband Ashton Eaton of the United States on winning the gold medal after the Women’s Pentathlon 800 Metres during day two of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Oregon Convention Center on March 18, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF) </p>
    3/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada is congratulated by her husband Ashton Eaton of the United States on winning the gold medal after the Women’s Pentathlon 800 Metres during day two of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Oregon Convention Center on March 18, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF)

  • <p>Ashton Eaton of United States speaks with his wife Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada on winning silver after the heptahlon during Day Four of the 14th IAAF World Athletics Championships Moscow 2013 at Luzhniki Stadium on August 13, 2013 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) </p>
    4/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Ashton Eaton of United States speaks with his wife Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada on winning silver after the heptahlon during Day Four of the 14th IAAF World Athletics Championships Moscow 2013 at Luzhniki Stadium on August 13, 2013 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

  • <p>United States’ Ashton Eaton, right, is congratulated by his wife Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada after winning the gold medal in the decathlon during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) </p>
    5/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    United States’ Ashton Eaton, right, is congratulated by his wife Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada after winning the gold medal in the decathlon during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

  • <p>United States’ Ashton Eaton embraces his wife Canada’s Brianne Theisen Eaton after winning the gold medal in the decathlon at the World Athletic Championships at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) </p>
    6/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    United States’ Ashton Eaton embraces his wife Canada’s Brianne Theisen Eaton after winning the gold medal in the decathlon at the World Athletic Championships at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

  • <p>Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada is congratulated by her husband Ashton Eaton of the United States on winning the gold medal after the Women’s Pentathlon 800 Metres during day two of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Oregon Convention Center on March 18, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF) </p>
    7/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada is congratulated by her husband Ashton Eaton of the United States on winning the gold medal after the Women’s Pentathlon 800 Metres during day two of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Oregon Convention Center on March 18, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)

  • <p>Reigning Olympic Heptathlon champion Ashton Eaton pictured with his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton at the press conference of the athletics meeting of Liege. They both will participate. (Photo by William Van Hecke/Corbis via Getty Images) </p>
    8/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Reigning Olympic Heptathlon champion Ashton Eaton pictured with his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton at the press conference of the athletics meeting of Liege. They both will participate. (Photo by William Van Hecke/Corbis via Getty Images)

  • <p>Ashton Eaton celebrates with his girlfriend Brianne Theisen (L) and mother Roslyn Eaton (R) after breaking the world record in the men’s decathlon after competing in the 1500 meter run portion during Day Two of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 23, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) </p>
    9/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Ashton Eaton celebrates with his girlfriend Brianne Theisen (L) and mother Roslyn Eaton (R) after breaking the world record in the men’s decathlon after competing in the 1500 meter run portion during Day Two of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 23, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

  • <p>Ashton Eaton, right, and his wife, Brianne Theisen-Eaton, participate in a news conference in New York, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. Eaton may be the ” world's greatest athlete," but at meets throughout the season such as Saturday's Millrose Games, the decathlon Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder is more like the third-best hurdler or long jumper. For Eaton and his wife, heptathlon world silver medalist Theisen-Eaton, it's not possible to compete in their entire events while preparing for championship meets. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) </p>
    10/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Ashton Eaton, right, and his wife, Brianne Theisen-Eaton, participate in a news conference in New York, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. Eaton may be the ” world's greatest athlete," but at meets throughout the season such as Saturday's Millrose Games, the decathlon Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder is more like the third-best hurdler or long jumper. For Eaton and his wife, heptathlon world silver medalist Theisen-Eaton, it's not possible to compete in their entire events while preparing for championship meets. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

  • <p>Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada is congratulated by her husband Ashton Eaton of the United States on winning the gold medal after the Women’s Pentathlon 800 Metres during day two of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Oregon Convention Center on March 18, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF) </p>
    11/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada is congratulated by her husband Ashton Eaton of the United States on winning the gold medal after the Women’s Pentathlon 800 Metres during day two of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Oregon Convention Center on March 18, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF)

  • <p>Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada embraces Ashton Eaton of the United States after crossing the finish line in the Women’s Heptathlon 800 metres during day two of the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015 at Beijing National Stadium on August 23, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) </p>
    12/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada embraces Ashton Eaton of the United States after crossing the finish line in the Women’s Heptathlon 800 metres during day two of the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015 at Beijing National Stadium on August 23, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

  • <p>Ashton Eaton (L) of the United States and Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada talk during day one of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Ergo Arena on March 7, 2014 in Sopot, Poland. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) </p>
    13/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Ashton Eaton (L) of the United States and Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada talk during day one of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Ergo Arena on March 7, 2014 in Sopot, Poland. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

  • <p>Coach Harry Marra (R) talks with Ashton Eaton (L) of the USA Track and Field Team and his fiancee Brianne Theisen (C), Canadian Heptathlete, as they train with the javelin at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon on April 12, 2013 in Eugene, Oregon. Eaton is the reigning Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the decathlon. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) </p>
    14/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Coach Harry Marra (R) talks with Ashton Eaton (L) of the USA Track and Field Team and his fiancee Brianne Theisen (C), Canadian Heptathlete, as they train with the javelin at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon on April 12, 2013 in Eugene, Oregon. Eaton is the reigning Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the decathlon. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

  • <p>Ashton Eaton (R) of the USA Track and Field Team and his fiancee Brianne Theisen, Canadian Heptathlete, train at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon on April 11, 2013 in Eugene, Oregon. Eaton is the reigning Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the decathlon. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) </p>
    15/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Ashton Eaton (R) of the USA Track and Field Team and his fiancee Brianne Theisen, Canadian Heptathlete, train at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon on April 11, 2013 in Eugene, Oregon. Eaton is the reigning Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the decathlon. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

  • <p>(L-R) Brianne Theisen, Canadian Heptathlete, and her fiance Ashton Eaton of the USA Track and Field Team discuss flowers for their upcoming wedding with a florist on April 11, 2013 in Eugene, Oregon. Eaton is the reigning Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the decathlon. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) </p>
    16/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    (L-R) Brianne Theisen, Canadian Heptathlete, and her fiance Ashton Eaton of the USA Track and Field Team discuss flowers for their upcoming wedding with a florist on April 11, 2013 in Eugene, Oregon. Eaton is the reigning Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the decathlon. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

  • <p>Ashton Eaton celebrates with his girlfriend Brianne Theisen (L) and mother Roslyn Eaton (R) after breaking the world record in the men’s decathlon after competing in the 1500 meter run portion during Day Two of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 23, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) </p>
    17/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Ashton Eaton celebrates with his girlfriend Brianne Theisen (L) and mother Roslyn Eaton (R) after breaking the world record in the men’s decathlon after competing in the 1500 meter run portion during Day Two of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 23, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

  • <p>Reigning Olympic Heptathlon champion Ashton Eaton pictured with his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton at the press conference of the athletics meeting of Liege. They both will participate. (Photo by William Van Hecke/Corbis via Getty Images) </p>
    18/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Reigning Olympic Heptathlon champion Ashton Eaton pictured with his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton at the press conference of the athletics meeting of Liege. They both will participate. (Photo by William Van Hecke/Corbis via Getty Images)

  • <p>Reigning Olympic Heptathlon champion Ashton Eaton pictured with his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton at the press conference of the athletics meeting of Liege. They both will participate. (Photo by William Van Hecke/Corbis via Getty Images) </p>
    19/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Reigning Olympic Heptathlon champion Ashton Eaton pictured with his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton at the press conference of the athletics meeting of Liege. They both will participate. (Photo by William Van Hecke/Corbis via Getty Images)

  • <p>Ashton Eaton of United States speaks with his wife Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada on winning silver after the heptahlon during Day Four of the 14th IAAF World Athletics Championships Moscow 2013 at Luzhniki Stadium on August 13, 2013 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Getty Images) </p>
    20/20

    Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton

    Ashton Eaton of United States speaks with his wife Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada on winning silver after the heptahlon during Day Four of the 14th IAAF World Athletics Championships Moscow 2013 at Luzhniki Stadium on August 13, 2013 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Getty Images)

<p>Canada’s Brianne Theisen Eaton is greeted by husband Ashton Eaton after the women’s heptathlon 800-meter heat during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) </p>
<p>Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada celebrates with her husband U.S Olympian Ashton Eaton after the 800 metres during the women’s heptathlon during the Hypo Meeting Gotzis 2015 at the Mosle Stadiom on May 31, 2015 in Gotzis, Austria. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada is congratulated by her husband Ashton Eaton of the United States on winning the gold medal after the Women’s Pentathlon 800 Metres during day two of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Oregon Convention Center on March 18, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IAAF) </p>
<p>Ashton Eaton of United States speaks with his wife Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada on winning silver after the heptahlon during Day Four of the 14th IAAF World Athletics Championships Moscow 2013 at Luzhniki Stadium on August 13, 2013 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) </p>
<p>United States’ Ashton Eaton, right, is congratulated by his wife Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada after winning the gold medal in the decathlon during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) </p>
<p>United States’ Ashton Eaton embraces his wife Canada’s Brianne Theisen Eaton after winning the gold medal in the decathlon at the World Athletic Championships at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) </p>
<p>Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada is congratulated by her husband Ashton Eaton of the United States on winning the gold medal after the Women’s Pentathlon 800 Metres during day two of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Oregon Convention Center on March 18, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF) </p>
<p>Reigning Olympic Heptathlon champion Ashton Eaton pictured with his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton at the press conference of the athletics meeting of Liege. They both will participate. (Photo by William Van Hecke/Corbis via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Ashton Eaton celebrates with his girlfriend Brianne Theisen (L) and mother Roslyn Eaton (R) after breaking the world record in the men’s decathlon after competing in the 1500 meter run portion during Day Two of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 23, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Ashton Eaton, right, and his wife, Brianne Theisen-Eaton, participate in a news conference in New York, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. Eaton may be the ” world's greatest athlete," but at meets throughout the season such as Saturday's Millrose Games, the decathlon Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder is more like the third-best hurdler or long jumper. For Eaton and his wife, heptathlon world silver medalist Theisen-Eaton, it's not possible to compete in their entire events while preparing for championship meets. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) </p>
<p>Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada is congratulated by her husband Ashton Eaton of the United States on winning the gold medal after the Women’s Pentathlon 800 Metres during day two of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Oregon Convention Center on March 18, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images for IAAF) </p>
<p>Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada embraces Ashton Eaton of the United States after crossing the finish line in the Women’s Heptathlon 800 metres during day two of the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015 at Beijing National Stadium on August 23, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Ashton Eaton (L) of the United States and Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada talk during day one of the IAAF World Indoor Championships at Ergo Arena on March 7, 2014 in Sopot, Poland. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Coach Harry Marra (R) talks with Ashton Eaton (L) of the USA Track and Field Team and his fiancee Brianne Theisen (C), Canadian Heptathlete, as they train with the javelin at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon on April 12, 2013 in Eugene, Oregon. Eaton is the reigning Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the decathlon. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Ashton Eaton (R) of the USA Track and Field Team and his fiancee Brianne Theisen, Canadian Heptathlete, train at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon on April 11, 2013 in Eugene, Oregon. Eaton is the reigning Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the decathlon. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) </p>
<p>(L-R) Brianne Theisen, Canadian Heptathlete, and her fiance Ashton Eaton of the USA Track and Field Team discuss flowers for their upcoming wedding with a florist on April 11, 2013 in Eugene, Oregon. Eaton is the reigning Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the decathlon. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Ashton Eaton celebrates with his girlfriend Brianne Theisen (L) and mother Roslyn Eaton (R) after breaking the world record in the men’s decathlon after competing in the 1500 meter run portion during Day Two of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 23, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Reigning Olympic Heptathlon champion Ashton Eaton pictured with his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton at the press conference of the athletics meeting of Liege. They both will participate. (Photo by William Van Hecke/Corbis via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Reigning Olympic Heptathlon champion Ashton Eaton pictured with his wife Brianne Theisen-Eaton at the press conference of the athletics meeting of Liege. They both will participate. (Photo by William Van Hecke/Corbis via Getty Images) </p>
<p>Ashton Eaton of United States speaks with his wife Brianne Theisen Eaton of Canada on winning silver after the heptahlon during Day Four of the 14th IAAF World Athletics Championships Moscow 2013 at Luzhniki Stadium on August 13, 2013 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Getty Images) </p>

Through the years, the man who holds the Olympic decathlon title has traditionally been known as the world’s greatest athlete. That title might not be as straightforward now as it was back when it was first bestowed upon Jim Thorpe, but there’s no denying Ashton Eaton’s worthiness.

The American became the third man ever to repeat as Olympic decathlon champion, taking gold Thursday night with 8,893 points to tie an Olympic record set in 2004.

Whatever the debate on Eaton’s standing among the world’s greatest at the moment, there’s no denying he lives in the world’s most athletic household. His wife, Brianne Theisen-Eaton, won bronze in the heptathlon for Canada earlier in the Games.