Emotional Ashton Eaton breaks world record in decathlon

Updated 29/08/2015 at 14:22 GMT

Ashton Eaton was reduced to tears after he won the decathlon at the world championships - smashing his own world record in the process.

USA's Ashton Eaton celebrates winning the decathlon and setting a new world record after finishing the 1500 metres in the men's decathlon athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium in Beijing on August 29, 2

Image credit: AFP

Eaton's victory means he also took the first world record in Beijing, after finishing the 1500m in 4:17.52.

The Olympic champion ended the decathlon with a world record 9045 points, setting a new best from his previous record of 9039 from Oregon in 2012. Eaton was in tears after sealing the world record, before hugging his coach Harry Morra.

During the 1500m race, Eaton shifted through the pack, moving from fifth into second during the second lap.

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The American's personal best is 4:14.48.

“Interesting feeling,” Eaton told the IAAF. “I’ve had it once, and now I’ve had it again, and it’s still weird.”

Two-time Olympic decathlon champion Daley Thompson told the BBC:

He's done a brilliant job. Sometimes you stand there before the 1500m and because of the mental stress of everything that has gone before you're sometimes not quite as focused. But he's done brilliantly. I think he can score higher because all of his personal bests add up to more.

His wife, Brianne Thiesen-Eaton, took silver in the heptathlon last weekend.

In the discus, Poland's Piotr Malachowski took gold with a throw of 67.40m.

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