U.S. Olympic Silver-Medal Decathlete Trey Hardee On Being At The Olympics

US decathlete Trey Hardee left the London 2012 Olympics with a silver medal and a bright future ahead of him. On August 9, under the help and guidance of coach Mario Sategna, Hardee, 28, won the silver in the men’s decathlon after posting a score of 8,671. Hardee finished second, just below fellow American Ashton Eaton, giving Team USA its first pair of 1-2 finalists in over 50 years. For Hardee, there’s nothing that compares to representing the USA in the Olympics. “Stepping into an Olympic setting, where the whole world is watching and you’re in a stadium and it’s 80-100,000 people; it’s really tough to describe,” Hardee told Uinterview exclusively. “You know you represent the greatest country in the world and you’re there to prove it, you’re there to show off, you’re there to represent your country the best you can.”
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Hardee was always a true competitor who was willing to try any sport to keep him active. Before he became a decathlete, Hardee envisioned himself playing in the NBA as he first took up basketball. After failing to make the varsity basketball team at Vestavia High School, Hardee joined the track and field team during his senior year. His athletic talent caught the attention of recruiters from Mississippi State University. Eventually, Hardee took part in Mississippi State’s track and field team as a pole vaulter.
It was there that his college coaches began to take notice of is abilities and encouraged him to take up other events, such as the decathlon and heptathlon. Hardee found success as he finished second in the 2004 NCAA Decathlon. After Mississippi State dropped its track and field program in 2004, Hardee transferred to the University of Texas. Despite adjusting to a new school life, Hardee barely missed a beat as he was able to win the 2005 NCAA Decathlon championship, while finishing in third place in the NCAA Heptathlon final. Hardee ended his college career on a high note as he was able to set the NCAA decathlon record with a then-personal best of 8,465 points. For all his accomplishments, Hardee was named the 2006 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Field Indoor Athlete of the Year.
After college, Hardee continued his track and field success onto the professional level, as he has become one of the most accomplished decathletes in the last few years. In 2008, Hardee was the runner-up at the Olympic trials, finishing in fourth overall. Hardee has made two appearances in the World Athletics Championships (in 2009 and 2011), bringing home the gold medal both times. In 2009, Hardee’s talents were recognized as he earned the prestigious Jim Thorpe All-Around award. In 2010, Hardee brought home the silver medal in the IAAF World Indoor Championships in heptathlon.