View source for Dan O'Brien

{{short description|American decathlete}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name           = Dan O'Brien
| image          = Dan O'Brian-edit.jpg
| image_size     = 
| caption        = O'Brien in 2009
| fullname       = Daniel Dion O'Brien<ref name=sports-reference>{{cite sports-reference |title=Dan O'Brien |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ob/dan-obrien-1.html |access-date=June 12, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714180915/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ob/dan-obrien-1.html |archive-date=July 14, 2015}}</ref>
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1966|7|18}}<ref name=sports-reference/>
| birth_place    = [[Portland, Oregon]], [[United States|U.S.]]<ref name=usatf>{{cite web |title=Dan O'Brien |url=http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2002/O%27Brien_Dan.asp |website=usatf.org |publisher=[[USA Track & Field]] |access-date=June 12, 2015 |archive-date=November 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104203557/http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2002/O%27Brien_Dan.asp |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| spouse         = 
| height         = 6 ft 2 in<ref name=sports-reference/><ref name=usatf/>
| weight         = 185 lb<ref name=sports-reference/><ref name=usatf/>
| website        = [http://www.danobrien.com danobrien.com]
| country        = [[United States]]
| sport          = [[Track and field|Track & Field]]
| event          = [[Decathlon]]
| collegeteam    = [[Idaho Vandals|University of Idaho]]
| coach          = Mike Keller (UI),<br />Rick Sloan (WSU)
| pb             = Decathlon: 8,991 (1992)<br>Heptathlon: 6,476 (1993)
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon|Decathlon]]}} 
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics|1991 Tokyo]]|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Men's decathlon|Decathlon]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics|1993 Stuttgart]]|[[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Men's decathlon|Decathlon]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics|1995 Gothenburg]]|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics – Men's decathlon|Decathlon]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Indoor Championships}}
{{MedalGold |[[1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1993 Toronto]]|[[Heptathlon]]}}
}}

'''Daniel Dion O'Brien''' (born July 18, 1966) is an American former [[decathlon|decathlete]] and [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] gold medalist. He won the Olympic title in [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon|1996]], three consecutive [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|world championships]] ([[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Men's decathlon|1991]], [[1993 World Championships in Athletics – Men's decathlon|1993]], [[1995 World Championships in Athletics – Men's decathlon|1995]]), and set the [[Decathlon world record progression|world record]] in 1992.

== Early life ==
O'Brien was born in [[Portland, Oregon]] in 1966. He is of [[African American]] and [[Finland|Finnish]] heritage,<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://famous.adoption.com/famous/obrien-daniel-dion.html |access-date=September 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516163737/http://famous.adoption.com/famous/obrien-daniel-dion.html |title=Daniel Dion O'Brien |archive-date=May 16, 2008}}</ref> and grew up as an adopted child in an [[Irish-American]] family in [[Klamath Falls, Oregon|Klamath Falls]].<ref name=hhdath>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rFZWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6010%2C6397468 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=(Los Angeles Times) |last=Murray |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Murray (sportswriter) |title=He had a thirst, just like Thorpe |date=April 29, 1992 |page=1B}}</ref>  He attended [[Henley High School (Klamath Falls, Oregon)|Henley High School]] graduating in 1984. At the Oregon High School State Championships he led his team to a team runner-up finish with O'Brien scoring all points. He earned four individual gold medals winning the 110 meter high hurdles, 300 meter hurdles, long jump and 100 yard dash.<ref name=":0" /> He then attended the [[University of Idaho]] in [[Moscow, Idaho|Moscow]], where he competed in [[track and field]] for the [[Idaho Vandals|Vandals]].<ref name=qbskth>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zltWAAAAIBAJ&pg=4691%2C201913 |work=Spokesman-Review |last=Blanchette |first=John |title=O'Brien qualifies for Big Sky 200 |date=May 15, 1989 |page=C4}}</ref> After initially flunking out of the university and then incurring legal difficulties,<ref name=hhdath/><ref name=jdrpcxn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=igYqAAAAIBAJ&pg=6543%2C984314 |newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal |location=South Carolina |agency=Cox News Service |last=Drape |first=Joe |title=O'Brien finds himself bigger obstacle than decathlon |date=May 5, 1996 |page=D8}}</ref> O'Brien attended [[Spokane Falls Community College]], a community college in [[Spokane, Washington]] in 1987-1988.<ref name=opwrccs>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2b5YAAAAIBAJ&pg=6921%2C7235239 |work=Spokesman-Review |last=Blanchette |first=John |title=O'Brien powers CCS |date=May 28, 1988 |page=B5}}</ref> He returned to the UI to compete for the Vandal track {{nowrap|team,<ref name=qbskth/><ref name=tkcnstg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zmRWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2510%2C4627508 |work=Spokesman-Review |last=Blanchette |first=John |title=UI's O'Brien, Eastern's Jefferson take center stage at Big Sky meet |date=May 19, 1989 |page=C3}}</ref>}} and complete his bachelor's {{nowrap|degree.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/02/09/20120209storytellers-dan-obrien-failures-drove-gold-medalist-new-heights.html |work=Arizona Republic |title=Failures drove gold medalist Dan O'Brien to new heights |last=Wagner |first=Dennis |date=February 10, 2012}}</ref><ref name=lmt8905>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WJZfAAAAIBAJ&pg=6124%2C1709538 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |last=Grummert |first=Dale |title=A hard road to glory |date=May 21, 1989 |page=1B}}</ref>}}

O'Brien trained for his Olympic and world championships on the [[Palouse]] under Idaho's track coach Mike Keller,<ref name=lmt8905/><ref name=lmt900614>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UZZfAAAAIBAJ&pg=2303%2C3629907 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |title=Ex-Idaho's O'Brien winds up second |date=June 14, 1990 |page=1B}}</ref><ref name=ptwgm>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1pJfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5925%2C1202094 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |title=Playing the waiting game |last=Grummert |first=Dale |date=August 19, 1990 |page=1D}}</ref><ref name=lmt9012>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UKhfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3475,4908649 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |title=Tribune's top ten sports stories: 6. Dan O'Brien |last=Grummert |first=Dale |date=December 30, 1990 |page=4C}}</ref> and Rick Sloan of [[Washington State Cougars|Washington State]] in neighboring [[Pullman, Washington|Pullman]] for the field {{nowrap|events.<ref name=atmeff90>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c5UrAAAAIBAJ&pg=6090%2C2103892 |newspaper=Idahonian |location=(Moscow) |last=Harriman |first=Peter |title=A team effort |date=July 21, 1990 |page=1D}}</ref><ref name=gwx92my>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=icUjAAAAIBAJ&pg=5156%2C4511412 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=(Idaho-Washington) |last=Wicks |first=Grace |title=Athlete Dan O'Brien a good example |date=May 2, 1992 |page=1C}}</ref><ref name=jblsr92>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nFxWAAAAIBAJ&pg=5318%2C6088645 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Blanchette |first=John |title=World record gives Dan glory, piece of mind |date=September 9, 1992 |page=1C}}</ref><ref name=mktg93>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bc8qAAAAIBAJ&pg=6167%2C1573862 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=(Idaho-Washington) |last=Harriman |first=Peter |title=The marketing of Dan O'Brien |date=March 15, 1993 |page=1B}}</ref><ref name=retrljbs>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g88qAAAAIBAJ&pg=6070%2C4497580 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=(Idaho-Washington) |last=Sullivan |first=Tim |title=O'Brien's gold medal coaches return to 'real jobs' |date=August 17, 1996 |page=1D}}</ref>}}

O'Brien competed at the [[United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|U.S. Olympic Trials]] in 1988; after a fast time in the 100 meters, he was injured in the long jump and withdrew.<ref name=obsl88>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sJQrAAAAIBAJ&pg=5959%2C2200276 |newspaper=Idahonian |location=Moscow |title=Lavine in discus finals; O'Brien sidelined |date=July 21, 1988 |page=8A}}</ref> He took second place at the [[Goodwill Games]] in [[Seattle]] in [[Athletics at the 1990 Goodwill Games|1990]], behind [[Dave Johnson (decathlete)|Dave Johnson]].<ref name=lmt900726>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=t3dfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5545%2C2866995 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |last=Sahlberg |first=Bert |title=O'Brien settles for second fiddle - for the time being |date=July 26, 1990 |page=1B}}</ref>

==Career==

===Olympics===
As the [[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Men's decathlon|1991 world champion]], O'Brien entered the Olympic year of [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992]] as the favorite to win gold in the [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon|decathlon]] in [[Barcelona]] and be proclaimed as the "world's greatest athlete." However, during the [[United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|U.S. Olympic Trials]] at [[Tad Gormley Stadium]] in [[New Orleans]] in late June, O'Brien had a disaster in the eighth event, the [[pole vault]]. After passing at the first four (lower) heights, O'Brien entered the competition at {{height|ft=15|in=9}}, and failed to clear the bar on all three attempts. As a result, he scored no points and dropped from first to eleventh place among the 24 decathletes.<ref name=shisovrg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iUJWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6556%2C6338584 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |last=Anderson |first=Curtis |title=The Dan and Dave show is over |date=June 28, 1992 |page=1E}}</ref><ref name=mpdntdat>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HPAuAAAAIBAJ&pg=2225%2C1492347 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=Idaho Washington |title=Tragic day at the Trials |date=June 29, 1992 |page=1C}}</ref> He did not make the Olympic team for Barcelona, but he continued to train for the competition held in France a few weeks after the Olympics ended.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/amateur/2016/07/03/for-damian-warner-four-years-of-training-comes-to-fruition-at-rio-olympics-in-august.html |title=For Damian Warner, four years of training comes to fruition at Rio Olympics in August - Toronto Star |work=thestar.com |date=July 3, 2016 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |last1=Gillespie |first1=Kerry}}</ref>

O'Brien's "no height" in the pole vault was also a financial embarrassment for his main corporate sponsor, and for NBC television which was heavily promoting the upcoming Olympics.  He appeared with U.S. rival [[Dave Johnson (decathlete)|Dave Johnson]], the [[Athletics at the 1990 Goodwill Games|Goodwill Games]] champion, in a popular TV [[advertising campaign]] for [[Reebok]].<ref name=dobsahr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W4FUAAAAIBAJ&pg=1557%2C1726806 |newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Dan O'Brien still a hero to hometown hero to fans |date=July 25, 1992 |page=6}}</ref> The series of commercials, entitled "[[Dan & Dave]]," were meant to build interest in Reebok and the decathletes, culminating in the Olympics in Barcelona.<ref name=shjwibdn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KykfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3001%2C3394121 |newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal |location=South Carolina |agency=Associated Press |last=Foster |first=Mary |title=Will it be Dan or will it be Dave? |date=June 27, 1992 |page=C1}}</ref> O'Brien's unexpected failure in New Orleans received considerable attention; Reebok adjusted by running new ads featuring him cheering on Dave, who went on to win the bronze medal.

O'Brien regrouped and set a world record of 8,891 points in early September in Talence, France.<ref name=wreug92>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bFJWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2222%2C1418966 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |last=Rodman |first=Bob |title=Dan O'Brien earns decathlon world record |date=September 6, 1992 |page=1E}}</ref><ref name=dddsm>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FS1iAAAAIBAJ&pg=3873%2C1716238 |newspaper=Observer-Reporter |location=Washington, Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Definitely Dan's day: O'Brien sets decathlon mark |date=September 6, 1992 |page=C8}}</ref><ref name=brdwrreag>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7oU0AAAAIBAJ&pg=1275%2C1855057 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=Pennsylvania |agency=news services |title=Dan O'Brien breaks Daley's world record |date=September 6, 1992 |page=D3}}</ref><ref name=erg930614>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GUVWAAAAIBAJ&pg=4966,3234897 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |last=Rodman |first=Bob |title=O'Brien takes aim at decathlon mark |date=June 14, 1993 |page=4B}}</ref> His marks were as follows: 100 meters in 10.43 seconds (with a tailwind); Long Jump 26&nbsp;ft 6¼ in (8.08 m); Shot Put 54&nbsp;ft 9¼ in (16.69 m); High Jump 6&nbsp;ft 9½ in (2.07 m); 400 meters 48.51 seconds, for a first day total of 4,720 points; Day two 110 Meter High Hurdles in 13.98 seconds; Discus 159&nbsp;ft 4 inches (48.56m); Pole Vault 16&nbsp;ft 4¾ in  (5.00 m); Javelin 205&nbsp;ft 4 in (62.58m); 1,500 meter run in 4 minutes 42.10 seconds = total 8,891 points).

This stood as the [[Decathlon world record progression|world record]] until 1999,<ref name=dvtpsmk99>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZQAiAAAAIBAJ&pg=4161%2C7152316 |newspaper=Sarasota Herald Tribune |location=Florida |agency=Associated Press |title=Dvorak tops O'Brien's world decathlon mark |date=July 5, 1999 |page=2C}}</ref> and the American record for nearly twenty years, until [[Ashton Eaton]] broke it in 2012 at the U.S. Olympic Trials in [[Eugene, Oregon]]. O'Brien was in attendance at [[Hayward Field]] and congratulated Eaton shortly after he completed the 1500 meters for a new world record of 9,039 points.<ref name=iaafwrbrkn>{{cite news |url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/9039-points-eaton-breaks-world-record-before |publisher=IAAF |title=9039 points! Eaton breaks world record before a home crowd in Eugene |date=June 24, 2012 |access-date=July 12, 2016}}</ref>

At the Olympics in [[Atlanta]] in [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon|1996]], O'Brien won the gold medal with 8,824 points, 118 ahead of runner-up [[Frank Busemann]] of [[Germany]].<ref name=bry92erg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SQBRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6161%2C301212 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |last=Baum |first=Bob |agency=Associated Press |title=O'Brien buries memories of '92 |date=August 2, 1996 |page=1C}}</ref><ref name=oentwd>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7LsaAAAAIBAJ&pg=3244%2C1497979 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |last=Powell |first=Shaun |agency=(Newsday) |title=O'Brien endures to win decathlon |date=August 2, 1996 |page=1C}}</ref><ref name=mpdnladn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ls8qAAAAIBAJ&pg=4625%2C3144817 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=Idaho-Washington |agency=(Los Angeles Daily News) |last=Ventre |first=Michael |title=O'Brien strikes Olympic gold |date=August 2, 1992 |page=1B}}</ref> After a break from competition, he won the Goodwill Games title in [[Athletics at the 1998 Goodwill Games|1998]], held east of [[New York City]] on [[Long Island]], his eleventh consecutive win since 1992.<ref name=sthgtst>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ivpPAAAAIBAJ&pg=2795%2C3478675 |newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner |location=Florida |agency=Associated Press |last=Rosenthal |first=Bert |title=Still the greatest |date=July 21, 1998 |page=1D}}</ref> A [[plantar fascia]] injury to his left foot in July 2000, shortly before the U.S. Olympic Trials, caused his withdrawal and he did not defend his title.<ref name=oootmpdnap>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=378jAAAAIBAJ&pg=5904%2C2032412 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=Idaho-Washington |last=Baum |first=Bob |agency=Associated Press |title=O'Brien bows out of Olympic trials |date=July 19, 2000 |page=1B}}</ref><ref name=infttkpou>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4w0wAAAAIBAJ&pg=6515%2C1423812 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |agency=Associated Press |title=Injured foot to keep O'Brien from trials |date=July 19, 2000 |page=7C}}</ref> Injuries continued and prevented his return to the Olympic trials in 2004.<ref name=iobodnapsr4>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5WdWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2770%2C4888930 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Injured O'Brien 'officially done' with decathlon |date=July 9, 2004 |page=C2}}</ref>

==Personal bests==
Information from [[World Athletics]] profile unless otherwise noted.
===Outdoor===
{{updated|June 21, 2025}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Event
! Performance
! Location
! Date
! Points
|-bgcolor=#ccffcc
| '''[[Decathlon#Men|Decathlon]]'''
| {{n/a}}
| align=center | [[Talence]]
| align=right  | September 4–5, 1992
| align=right  | 8,891 points
|-
| [[100 meters]]
| align=right  | 10.32 (+1.7&nbsp;m/s)
| align=center | [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]]
| align=right  | June 21, 1996
| align=right  | 1,018 points
|-
| [[Long jump]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|8.08}} (+1.8&nbsp;m/s)
| align=center | [[Talence]]
| align=right  | September 4, 1992
| align=right  | 1,081 points
|-
| [[Shot put]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|16.69}}
| align=center | [[Talence]]
| align=right  | September 4, 1992
| align=right  | 894 points
|-
| [[High jump]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|2.20}}
| align=center | [[Saint Petersburg]]
| align=right  | July 28, 1994
| align=right  | 992 points
|-
| [[400 meters]]
| align=right  | 46.53
| align=center | [[Japan National Stadium|Tokyo]]
| align=right  | August 29, 1991
| align=right  | 982 points
|-
| [[110 meters hurdles]]
| align=right  | 13.47 (+0.0&nbsp;m/s)
| align=center | [[San Jose, California|San Jose]]
| align=right  | May 27, 1995
| align=right  | 1,044 points
|-
| [[Discus throw]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|55.07}}
| align=center | [[Modesto, California|Modesto]]
| align=right  | May 8, 1999
| align=right  | 977 points
|-
| [[Pole vault]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|5.20}}
| align=center | [[Japan National Stadium|Tokyo]]
| align=right  | August 30, 1991
| align=right  | 972 points
|-
| [[Javelin throw]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|66.90}}
| align=center | [[Centennial Olympic Stadium|Atlanta]]
| align=right  | August 1, 1996
| align=right  | 842 points
|-
| [[1500 meters]]
| align=right  | 4:36.63
| align=center | [[Seattle]]
| align=right  | July 25, 1990
| align=right  | 702 points
|-
| colspan=4 align=right        | '''Virtual Best Performance'''
| align=center bgcolor=#cffcff | 9,504 points
|}

===Indoor===
{{updated|June 21, 2025}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Event
! Performance
! Location
! Date
! Points
|-bgcolor=#ccffcc
| '''[[Heptathlon#Men|Heptathlon]]'''
| {{n/a}}
| align=center | [[Toronto]]
| align=right  | March 13–14, 1993
| align=right  | 6,476 points
|-
| [[60 meters]]
| align=right  | 6.67
| align=center | [[Toronto]]
| align=right  | March 13, 1993
| align=right  | 1,003 points
|-
| [[Long jump]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|7.73}}
| align=center | [[Houston]]
| align=right  | February 3, 1996
| align=right  | 992 points
|-
| [[Shot put]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|16.02}}
| align=center | [[Toronto]]
| align=right  | March 13, 1993
| align=right  | 852 points
|-
| [[High jump]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|2.13}}
| align=center | [[Toronto]]
| align=right  | March 13, 1993
| align=right  | 925 points
|-
| [[60 meters hurdles]]
| align=right  | 7.68
| align=center | [[Toronto]]
| align=right  | March 14, 1993
| align=right  | 1,064 points
|-
| [[Pole vault]]
| align=right  | {{T&Fcalc|5.20}}
| align=center | [[Toronto]]
| align=right  | March 14, 1993
| align=right  | 972 points
|-
| [[1000 meters]]
| align=right  | 2:57.96
| align=center | [[Toronto]]
| align=right  | March 14, 1993
| align=right  | 684 points
|-
| colspan=4 align=right       | '''Virtual Best Performance'''
| align=right bgcolor=#cffcff | 6,492 points
|}

==Retirement==
O'Brien announced his retirement from the decathlon on July 8, 2004.<ref>{{cite news |last=Matthies |first=Steve |title=O'Brien says his decathlon career over |date=July 8, 2004 |url=https://www.heraldandnews.com/sports/obrien-says-his-decathlon-career-over/article_fdf5f736-4df2-518d-b93a-be09445ae5ec.html |work=Herald and News}}</ref>

==Other athletics==
O'Brien broke the world record for the fastest game of [[hopscotch]] on [[Chelsea Piers]] on May 7, 2009. He established a record of 81 seconds, breaking the old mark by two seconds.<ref>{{cite news |last=Penner |first=Mike |title=Dan O'Brien hops his way to a world record |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-08-sp-random8-story.html |access-date=August 3, 2012 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=May 8, 2009}}</ref>

Shortly following the [[2010 Major League Baseball season|2010 MLB season]], O'Brien began working with [[San Francisco Giants]] third baseman [[Pablo Sandoval]], in an effort to help the struggling slugger lose weight.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/giants/detail?entry_id=80671#ixzz1AliOazVq |work=The San Francisco Chronicle |first=Henry |last=Schulman |title=Sandoval said to be working hard, slimmed down |date=January 10, 2011}}</ref>

==Modeling and product endorsements==
In the late 1990s, Dan O'Brien appeared in ads for Italian designer [[Gianni Versace S.p.A.|Versace]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Rovell |first=Darren |title=Catching Up With Dan And Dave |date=July 29, 2008 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2008/07/29/catching-up-with-dan-and-dave.html |work=CNBC}}</ref>

==Literature==
On June 1, 2012, O'Brien released a book which was co-written with Brad Botkin, "Clearing Hurdles: The Quest to Be The World's Greatest Athlete" ({{ISBN|978-1935628088}}).

==Podcast==
O'Brien and Dave Johnson are the subject of (and participants in) the ESPN Radio 30 for 30 podcast "The Trials of Dave and Dan" [https://www.espn.com/radio/play/_/id/19747090]

==Personal life==
In 1994, O'Brien was diagnosed with [[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder|ADHD]] and prescribed [[Wellbutrin]].<ref>{{cite news | last=Noden | first=Merrell | title=Dan O'Brien | date=June 27, 1994 | url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1994/06/27/dan-obrien | work=si.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Dan O'Brien Timeline | access-date=June 21, 2025 | url=http://danobrien.com/timeframe.htm | quote=1994 was a year of personal growth for Dan O'Brien. He was diagnosed with Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder, a syndrome that makes you easily distracted. Those with ADHD tend to be creative but unfocused, extremely energetic, but easily distracted. For Dan, this helped explain his bouts with alcohol, which became a form of self-medication--a depressant for highly wound people. Dan was prescribed Wellbutrin, and it proved successful. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000617114741/http://danobrien.com/timeframe.htm | archive-date=June 17, 2000 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Since 1997, O'Brien has been a resident of the [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] area,<ref name=obmvphx>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OUM0AAAAIBAJ&pg=5045%2C5905061 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=wire services |title=O'Brien moves to Phoenix |date=January 25, 1997 |page=2D}}</ref> having relocated from northern Idaho.<ref name=thstdb>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Cr0jAAAAIBAJ&pg=5984%2C1359305 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=Idaho-Washington |last=White |first=Vera |title=The house that Dan built |date=April 14, 1994 |page=1A}}</ref><ref name=iccdobd>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZfdLAAAAIBAJ&pg=3708%2C3124799 |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |agency=Associated Press |title=Idaho city celebrates Dan O'Brien Day |date=August 19, 1996 |page=B2}}</ref> He owns Gold Medal Acceleration, a gym in [[Scottsdale, Arizona|Scottsdale]], is a volunteer track coach at [[Arizona State Sun Devils|ASU]], and does commentary for track and field events on television.

==Honors and awards==
O'Brien won the Olympic [[gold medal]] for decathlon at the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], and also won gold medals at the [[1991 World Championships in Athletics|1991]], [[1993 World Championships in Athletics|1993]], and [[1995 World Championships in Athletics]].

Shortly after his gold medal performance at the 1996 Olympics, O'Brien was honored with "Dan O'Brien Day" by the state of [[Idaho]] and a parade by the city of [[Moscow, Idaho|Moscow]] in mid-August.<ref name=iccdobd/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SLZeAAAAIBAJ&pg=6338%2C945268 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |last=Johnson |first=David |title=O'Brien given hero's welcome |date=August 19, 1996 |page=1A}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0swiAAAAIBAJ&pg=5973%2C7693568 |last=Roesler |first=Rich |title=Thousands honor hometown hero |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |page=A1 |date=August 19, 1996}}</ref><ref name=mbdn96ahh>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g88qAAAAIBAJ&pg=3453%2C4609918 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=Idaho-Washington |last=Sullivan |first=Tim |title=A hero's homecoming |date=August 19, 1996 |page=1C}}</ref>

O'Brien was inducted into the [[Oregon Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2005, along with Dave Johnson.<ref name=oshof>{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonsportshall.org/dan_obrien.html |publisher=Oregon Sports Hall of Fame |title=Dan O'Brien - Track and Field |access-date=May 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727152759/http://oregonsportshall.org/dan_obrien.html |archive-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=32050 |title='Dan and Dave' reunion |work=Portland Tribune |last=Brandon |first=Steve |date=October 7, 2005 |access-date=February 23, 2010 |archive-date=February 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211141058/http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=32050 |url-status=dead}}</ref>  He was inducted into the [[National Track and Field Hall of Fame]] in 2006, the University of Idaho Sports Hall of Fame with the large inaugural class of 2007, and the [[United States Olympic Hall of Fame]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usatf.org/News/Devers,-O’Brien,-Temple,-Connolly-selected-to-U-S-.aspx |title=USA Track & Field - Devers, O'Brien, Temple, Connolly selected to U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame |website=www.usatf.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515131615/http://www.usatf.org/News/Devers,-O%E2%80%99Brien,-Temple,-Connolly-selected-to-U-S-.aspx |archive-date=2012-05-15}}</ref>

A street in Klamath Falls was named for him 1996,<ref name=kfsredcr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uUhWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6739%2C3400714 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=news services |title=Klamath Falls rolls red carpet for O'Brien |date=September 14, 1996 |page=2D}}</ref><ref name=hwfkap>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WcYjAAAAIBAJ&pg=2250%2C1327095 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=Idaho-Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=O'Brien receives hero's welcome from home town |date=September 16, 1996 |page=1C}}</ref><ref name=srartrem96>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pagpAAAAIBAJ&pg=5491%2C4928713 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last1=Meehan |first1=Jim |last2=Lee |first2=Greg |title=A year to remember |date=December 29, 1996 |page=C9}}</ref> and Henley High School honored O'Brien by renaming its football field after the athlete in 2010.

The University of Idaho's outdoor track and field venue was named for O'Brien in 1996.  The complex underwent a $2.5 million renovation in 2011–12,<ref name=bwarch11>{{cite news |url=http://bernardowills.com/portfolio/dan-obrien-track-field-complex/ |publisher=Bernardo Wills Architects |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Dan O'Brien Track and Field Complex |date=2011 |access-date=July 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.govandals.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205430027 |work=University of Idaho |title=Dan O'Brien Track Complex |date=May 22, 2012 |access-date=July 12, 2016}}</ref> and he was on hand in Moscow in May 2012 to rededicate it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.govandals.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17100&ATCLID=205424800 |work=Go Vandals.com |title=O'Brien helps cut the ribbon on revamped track |date=May 7, 2012 |access-date=May 14, 2012}}</ref><ref name=osmpn12>{{cite news |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-05-08/sports/sns-mct-obrien-returns-to-idaho-20120508_1_track-and-field-ui-spotlight |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216090820/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-05-08/sports/sns-mct-obrien-returns-to-idaho-20120508_1_track-and-field-ui-spotlight |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 16, 2014 |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |location=Florida |last=Rokyta |first=Devin |agency=(Moscow-Pullman Daily News) |title=O'Brien returns to Idaho |date=May 8, 2012 |access-date=July 12, 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
* {{portal-inline|Sport of athletics}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.danobrien.com/}}
* {{World Athletics}}
* {{USATF}}
* {{Olympics.com}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Team USA|new_id=dan-obrien}}
* {{Team USA Hall of Fame|new_id=dan-obrien}}
<!--
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106042259/http://www.teamusa.org/HOF-Class-of-2012-Home/HOF-Class-of-2012-Dan-OBrien |date=mdy |title=U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame – Dan O'Brien}}
* [https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17100&ATCLID=1583619 University of Idaho – Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame – Dan O'Brien]
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104203557/http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/2002/O%27Brien_Dan.asp |date=November 4, 2018 |title=USA Track & Field – Dan O'Brien}}
* [http://www.bigskyconf.com/news/2013/12/19/ITF_1219132157.aspx Big Sky Conference – Dan O'Brien]
* [http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/obrien_dan00.html Arizona State University track team - Dan O'Brien - volunteer coach] -->
* [http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=32050 A "Dan & Dave" reunion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211141058/http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=32050 |date=February 11, 2012 }} - ''[[The Portland Tribune]]'' - October 7, 2005
* [https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/biggestbusts.html Biggest sports busts -- ESPN Page 2]

===Video===
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKJkfE1M9wA YouTube] – Reebok Commercials - Dan and Dave - 1992  
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjPRumTNknE YouTube] – World Record, from French television broadcast (1992)
*[http://www.flotrack.org/video/643633-dan-obrien-reflects-on-ashton-eaton-dec-wr-at-2012-us-olympic-trials FloTrack.org] – Dan O'Brien reflects (2012)

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|GBR}} [[Daley Thompson]]|title=[[Decathlon#Records|Men's Decathlon World Record Holder]]|years=September 5, 1992 &ndash; July 4, 1999|after={{flagicon|CZE}} [[Tomáš Dvořák]]}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|FRA}} [[Christian Plaziat]]|title=[[Heptathlon#World Records|Men's heptathlon world record holder]]|years=March 14, 1993 &ndash; March 13, 2010|after={{flagicon|USA}} [[Ashton Eaton]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions Decathlon}}
{{Footer World Champions Decathlon}}
{{Footer World Indoor Champions Heptathlon Men}}
{{Footer US NC Decathlon Men}}
{{Footer WBYP Decathlon}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1996 Summer Olympics}}
{{IAAF Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Obrien, Dan}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:African-American track and field athletes]]
[[Category:American male decathletes]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:American people of Finnish descent]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Idaho]]
[[Category:People from Klamath Falls, Oregon]]
[[Category:Idaho Vandals men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:American adoptees]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Goodwill Games medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Arizona State Sun Devils track and field coaches]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Indoor Championships winners]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1998 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1990 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1994 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]