Best athlete of our generation?

Who are the strongest and best athletes in the world? While some will argue for certain sports, a person who can compete with elite athletes at ten different events has to be among the mix. Though not many people are well versed in the decathlon, World Record Holder Ashton Eaton of the U.S. (as well as 2012 Olympic Champion) has to be among the mix of best athletes of our generation. He has the ability to run, jump and throw, and has bested all the world’s competition in the past year.

Though he may not be the best at each event (you don’t see him winning in a flat out race against Usain Bolt) Eaton is an all around athlete that can beat most athletes in any event. So, even with being the multisport badass he is, who does Ashton Eaton think are the greatest athletes in the world? According to an article from Oregon Sports, Eaton says,” I’ve always thought [there] are the most athletic people on the football field…it’s kind of scary if you look at some of their statistics.”

Eaton is the grandson of a D1 football player at Michigan State, and had his own hayday in high school, playing running back. Though he was only offered scholarships to DIII schools, a recent NBC interview with Head Football Coach at Oregon, Chip Kelly, was quoted saying, “I think about it all the time. I wasn’t here when he got here but I think, ‘Why didn’t anybody recruit that guy?’ He’d go both ways for us. He’s got the endurance to go both ways … He’d be a receiver/safety type guy. We could put him to good use.” Those are big words coming from one of the most sought after coaches in the game.

Keep up with Ashton Eaton as the indoor track season starts this month. Though he has no set meet to open with, he will be target # 1 for all Decathletes around the globe.

Image courtesy of Male Celeb Bio