{"id":51163,"date":"2016-07-28T07:15:26","date_gmt":"2016-07-28T11:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=51163"},"modified":"2016-08-15T17:13:34","modified_gmt":"2016-08-15T21:13:34","slug":"2016-olympics-track-and-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/2016-olympics-track-and-field\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Reasons to Get Pumped for the 2016 Olympic Track Events"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photos (clockwise from top left): Nike<\/a>; @usainbolt<\/a>; Nike<\/a>; @yokoji525<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you haven\u2019t marked your calendar yet, you might be the only one. The 2016 Rio Olympics are predicted to be the<\/em> most-watched television event in U.S. history (topping the 219 million viewers of the London Games). Despite Zika, water pollution and extreme political unrest, Rio will be the last stand for some of the most accomplished athletes<\/a> the world has ever seen: Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Serena Williams \u2014 the list goes on.<\/p>\n

But perhaps no arena will be more alive than Rio\u2019s Engenh\u00e3o Olympic Stadium track. From a 40 (yes 40!) year-old sprinter, Kim Collins, to American legends-in-the-making Allyson Felix and Ashton Eaton, the field is, as they say, stacked. And don\u2019t discount the inaugural refugee team, as five South Sudanese track and field athletes re-write their history on the track. Here\u2019s a closer look at why you should tune into every second of the Olympic Track and Field events.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>In the Gym with Sanya Richards-Ross<\/a><\/p>\n

All Eyes on Track and Field: 6 Stories\u00a0to\u00a0Watch<\/h2>\n
\"Ashton
Photo: Nike, Inc.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. The World\u2019s Greatest Athlete
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Scratch that. The world\u2019s greatest athlete\u2026of all time<\/em>? That\u2019s how experts are billing Ashton Eaton, the overwhelming favorite for the 2016 Olympic Decathlon, also known as the most grueling 10-part display of athleticism, speed, agility and strength that won Eaton a gold medal and <\/em>a world record in 2012.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis sheer athleticism and laser focus are just part of what makes him so exciting to watch,\u201d says Julia Lucas<\/a>, a former teammate of Eaton\u2019s and Nike+ Run Club (NRC) Head Coach in NYC.<\/p>\n

Not only must the decathletes excel in 10 disparate events over the course of two 15-hour days, they must be extremely smart and mentally tough, Lucas says. (More on Eaton’s\u00a0game-day strategy here<\/a>). \u201cYou can bet Ashton is thinking about where the wind is coming from, if the ground is wet that day, how his competitors are looking \u2014 and if he has to do something big and daring or if he has to keep it safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

If the Nike-sponsored athlete repeats in Rio, that will make him the first two-time decathlon gold medalist since Daley Thompson of Great Britain in 1988 and 1992. \u201cJust watching him is being a part of history,\u201d Lucas says.<\/p>\n