Hardee started his ’09 multi-event season in a big way, finishing 2nd in the prestigious Götzis meet with 8518 points, just 18 points shy of his ’08 PR. “That was the biggest confidence booster I could possibly get,” he said of his performance in Austria. “In my first meet EVEN BEFORE RECEIVING his gold medal, Trey Hardee got a at the Texas Relays, I strained a hamstring pretty badly. I didn’t do couple of other rewards. First, he was tossed into the air by some of much training or competing for six weeks. his 10-event compatriots, a ceremony befitting a conquering hero. “We went to Götzis just to test out things and I almost PRed. That Then during the en masse victory lap of all the decathletes, the set the tone for the rest of the summer. And I trained right through 25-year-old Alabama-born star stopped on the backstretch to accept USAs. After the confidence from Götzis, we knew we could really a homemade “gold medal” from some Swiss fans. put the hammer down in trainThe imitation award, made ing and wouldn’t have to do of cardboard colored gold and Sneaking in a little hook ’em Horns anything special to make the hanging from a blue string, was team. Just do things right and still around Hardee’s neck as he train for Worlds and I’d be talked to the media. ready to go.” “This will do until I get the The day after his Berlin win, real thing,” he said, smiling. at the Track & Field News Tour Then his voice turned serious as luncheon, Hardee clarified he continued, “I’m very grateful what was the turning point for and humbled. I’ve said before that him. “I said last night it was the things happen for a reason. I’m 100 start,” he smiled, “but really very honored. it was the vault. Making that “The people who have been first height was huge. I went put in my life, for whatever reason, to my coach Mario Sategna and I feel I represented them well. I we felt like were one big step closer.” competed to the best of my ability and I had a good time doing it. I Hardee said the feeling of camaraderie among the decathletes was can’t ask for anything more.” reflected by the toss in the air and the communal victory lap. “The A major thing that happened “for a reason” was Hardee’s no-height decathlon is a battle,” he said. “You don’t compete directly against in the vault—echoing what had happened to the Collegiate Record the other guys, but more against yourself. Your mind, emotions, the holder at the ’06 NCAA—that led to his withdrawal from last year’s elements, the scoring tables. Olympic decathlon. He said, “Berlin wouldn’t be nearly as sweet “When it’s all done, you’re brothers, friends for life. That camawithout Beijing. That was great, unbelievable motivation. All last fall raderie is unlike anything else in sports.” /Jon Hendershott/ and this season, my mental preparation was driven by that.”
Hardee & His Band Of Brothers
TONY DUFFY/THE SPORTING IMAGE
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The Bible Of The Sport
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