Warner equals his decathlon world best in the 100 metres to open Olympic decathlon

TOKYO — Canada’s Damian Warner opened his quest for an Olympic decathlon title in emphatic fashion.

The 31-year-old from London, Ont., ran 10.12 seconds in the 100 metres to tie his decathlon world record in the event.

Warner is the No. 1-ranked decathlete in the world this year after shattering his Canadian record at the Hypo-Meeting in Gotzis, Austria. His score of 8,995 there was the fourth best in history.

Pierce LePage of Whitby, Ont., ran 10.43, the third-fastest time on the morning. Australia’s Ashley Moloney was second (10.34).

Warner’s record-breaking performance in May came after a winter of training in an unheated hockey arena in London. COVID-19 protocols shut down the University of Western Ontario indoor track facility, and his coaches outfitted the arena with a 40-metre track runway, pole vault and high jump pits, and a throwing circle.

The decathletes face gruelling conditions in Tokyo. The temperature at Olympic Stadium at 9 a.m. for the 100 metres was 33 C, but felt like 47 C with the humidity.

The decathlon features 10 events over two days. They still have the long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400 metres on Wednesday. Thursday’s Day 2 events are the 110-metre hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and the 1,500 metres.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2021.

The Canadian Press