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US' Ashton Eaton competes in the men's decathlon 400m at the athletics event of the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 8, 2012 in London. AFP
Ashton Eaton of the US toiled to Olympic gold in the men's decathlon Thursday with an overall score of 8,869 points.
Eaton led by 151 points going into the final event, the 1,500 metres, and delivered the average run he needed for gold in four minutes, 33.59 seconds.
Double world champion Trey Hardee claimed the silver with 8,671 points, and Leonel Suarez of Cuba took the bronze on 8,523.
Eaton came close to the 9,039 world record he set during the US trials in June, but needed to shatter his personal best by six seconds to break it.
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