2012 London Summer Olympics

Eugene, OR

There will be no repeat for reigning Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bryan Clay in London.

Clay won't be able to defend the title that he won in Beijing four years ago after he was disqualified for missing the final hurdle in the 110-meter hurdles at the US track trials.

Clay stumbled on the final hurdle and crossed the finish line dead last with 16.81 seconds. He was originally credited 644 points before officials announced that he had been disqualified for not clearing the last hurdle.

With no time for the hurdles, the sixth event, he fell to 16th and out of contention.

Clay won the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Games by 270 points -- the largest margin in 36 years. He became the first American to win the multi-event since Dan O'Brien in 1996.

Despite the disqualification, Clay competed in the discus throw event but fouled on all three attempts, dropping him into last place in the field. The top three finishers will join the US Olympic team.

Clay won the silver in the 2004 Olympics and followed that up with a dominant performance in the 2008 Games. That year, Clay set a U.S. trials record with 8,832 points.

Along with Ashton Eaton and Trey Hardee, Clay was touted as one of three contenders for the gold at the London Games.

Overall leader Eaton won five of the first six events to lead with 6,464 points. He won the heptathlon at this year's world championships, and was second in last year's decathlon at the outdoor worlds,

Reigning world champion Hardee was second at 6,269 with Ryan Harlan third at 5,658, 21 points ahead of Gray Horn with three events remaining — pole vault, javelin and 1,500 meters.

 

 

Reigning Decathlon Gold Medalist Bryan Clay Off Olympic Team