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Brianne Theisen-Eaton wins Canada’s first track medal of Rio Olympics

Brianne Theisen-Eaton won Canada's first Rio 2016 medal in athletics with a bronze in the women's heptathlon.

August 13, 2016
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Canada has its first medal on the track at the 2016 Rio olympics thanks to Brianne Theisen-Eaton’s incredible performance in the heptathlon. The Humboldt, Sask. native won bronze in the seven-discipline event with 6,653 points.

Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam won gold (6,810 points) and defending Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill of Great Britain finished second (6,775 points).

Theisen-Eaton was third entering the final event on Saturday night in Rio, the 800m, with just a 12-point lead over the fourth place competitor. There, she maintained her bronze medal position through to the end of the event by running 2:09.50.

She was in sixth spot after the first four events (100m hurdles, 200m, high jump and shot put) but performed well in the javelin and the long jump to chip into the deficit between her and the top contenders. The 27-year-old had the sixth best jump and was 11th in the javelin portion, the penultimate event preceding the 800m.

RELATED: Ashton Eaton responds to criticism for wearing Canadian hat in support of wife.

It was Canada’s first medal on the track in the second day of competition in Rio. Canada won just a single medal at the 2012 London Olympics, a bronze in the men’s high jump. Some of the nation’s top medals contenders are still to run including Melissa Bishop (800m) and Andre De Grasse (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay). Medals in the men’s high jump, men’s pole vault and decathlon are also a possibility.

RELATED: Ashton Eaton responds to criticism for wearing Canadian hat in support of wife.

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Athletes in the heptathlon are scored in each of the seven individual events and those points contribute to an overall score. The final standings are based on all seven events meaning athletes need to excel in running, jumping and throwing events. The heptathlon spans two days.

Theisen-Eaton’s 800m

Theisen-Eaton’s javelin throw

Canadian Damian Warner will compete in the men’s version of the combined events as he will contest the decathlon beginning Aug. 17. He won the silver medal at the world championships in 2015. Brianne’s husband, Ashton Eaton, is the favourite to win the decathlon.

Brandon McBride ran in the semifinals of the men’s 800m earlier in the night but did not advance to the finals. The Windsor, Ont. native and graduate of Mississippi State University finished sixth in his heat. He’s only 22 and is one of Canada’s brightest stars in the middle-distance events.

Mcbride’s finish

Top-five results for the heptathlon

POS BIB ATHLETE COUNTRY POINTS 100 METRES HURDLES HIGH JUMP SHOT PUT 200 METRES LONG JUMP JAVELIN THROW 800 METRES
1 380 Nafissatou THIAM BELBEL 6810 NR Points
Mark
Wind m/s		 1041
13.56
+0.3		 1211
1.98		 855
14.91		 878
25.10
-0.7		 1033
6.58
-0.5		 921
53.13		 871
2:16.54
2 702 Jessica ENNIS-HILL GBRGBR 6775 SB Points
Mark
Wind m/s		 1149
12.84
0.0		 1093
1.89		 785
13.86		 1030
23.49
-0.1		 956
6.34
-1.2		 784
46.06		 978
2:09.07
3 497 Brianne THEISEN EATON CANCAN 6653 Points
Mark
Wind m/s		 1097
13.18
0.0		 1054
1.86		 757
13.45		 963
24.18
-0.1		 1001
6.48
+0.3		 809
47.36		 972
2:09.50
4 972 Laura IKAUNIECE-ADMIDINA LATLAT 6617 Points
Mark
Wind m/s		 1075
13.33
+0.3		 941
1.77		 762
13.52		 1004
23.76
-0.1		 887
6.12
-0.5		 975
55.93		 973
2:09.43
5 777 Carolin SCHÄFER GERGER 6540 Points
Mark
Wind m/s		 1106
13.12
0.0		 1016
1.83		 832
14.57		 982
23.99
-0.1		 912
6.20
+0.6		 821
47.99		 871
2:16.52

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