Photo by: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Seventh heaven: Ziemek shines in Olympic debut
August 18, 2016 | Men's Track & Field
UW senior becomes top collegiate finisher in Olympic decathlon since 1984
RIO DE JANEIRIO – During his historic decathlon career at Wisconsin, Zach Ziemek was known as a great jumper and sprinter, but not always as a thrower.
Ziemek proved Thursday that he can he can compete with the world's greatest multi-event athletes in the throwing events, as he set personal bests in both the discus and javelin to aid a seventh-place finish in the decathlon at the Olympic Games.
The UW senior finished the 10-discipline event with a score of 8,392 points, only 21 shy of his lifetime best of 8,413 set last month at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
"I'm trying to feel my legs again," Ziemek said. "I was hurting after the 1500 meters. But to see the scoreboard, I came in seventh, very close to my personal best, it was awesome."
"Double Z" became the top American collegiate finisher in the Olympic decathlon since the event was introduced into NCAA competition in 1970.
Overall, Ziemek is the highest-finishing collegian in the Olympic decathlon since France's William Motti, who competed at Mount St. Mary's, took fifth at the 1984 Summer Games.
"Zach proved once again that he is a world-class athlete," UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. "To finish seventh at the Olympics, the biggest competition of his life, is awesome. Zach has competed all year with such passion. We are very proud of him and will certainly miss him.
"He has been a tremendous ambassador for Itasca, Illinois, the University of Wisconsin and Team USA. I wish him continued success as he continues his career as a professional athlete and thank him for everything he did for our program."
Ziemek was the second American finisher behind Ashton Eaton, who tied the Olympic decathlon record with a score of 8,893 points to win his second straight gold medal.
Ziemek began the second day of competition in 10th place heading in the 110 hurdles, where he crossed the line in 14.77 seconds.
He then set his first personal-best mark of the competition in the discus. After throwing the disc 148 feet, 8 inches on his first attempt, he threw 162-1 before letting out a signature celebratory yell. His mark, which ranked third-best in the field, moved him up to sixth place after seven events.
In the pole vault, Ziemek's specialty, he cleared 16-4 3/4 and 16-8 3/4 with ease before needing a pair of attempts to soar 17-0 3/4. He came close to making it over the bar at 17-4 1/2, which would have been a season best, but was unable to attain the mark.
Sitting in fifth place after eight events, Ziemek started the javelin competition with a mark of 187-10.
His final two throws were two of the best of his career. The second effort went 197-7, more than six feet beyond his previous personal best, and his final throw sailed 199-10 to keep him in fifth place after nine events.
Ziemek ended the decathlon with a time of 4:42.97 in the 1500 meters, less than a half second off his personal best in the event, to finish just 21 points shy of his career-best decathlon score.
"I'm going to take a little rest and get back at it in a couple of months," Ziemek said about his future. "I have my eyes focused on the world championships next year."
"Double Z" became the second Badger to earn a top-10 finish on the track this week, as former Wisconsin standout Evan Jager finished second in the steeplechase on Wednesday to win Team USA's first medal in that event since 1984.
Two more Badgers compete on Saturday at the Summer Games as Gwen Jorgensen competes in the triathlon at 9 a.m. (CT) and former UW distance star Mohammed Ahmed races in the 5000 meters at 7:30 p.m. Both events will air live on NBC.
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Ziemek proved Thursday that he can he can compete with the world's greatest multi-event athletes in the throwing events, as he set personal bests in both the discus and javelin to aid a seventh-place finish in the decathlon at the Olympic Games.
The UW senior finished the 10-discipline event with a score of 8,392 points, only 21 shy of his lifetime best of 8,413 set last month at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
"I'm trying to feel my legs again," Ziemek said. "I was hurting after the 1500 meters. But to see the scoreboard, I came in seventh, very close to my personal best, it was awesome."
"Double Z" became the top American collegiate finisher in the Olympic decathlon since the event was introduced into NCAA competition in 1970.
Overall, Ziemek is the highest-finishing collegian in the Olympic decathlon since France's William Motti, who competed at Mount St. Mary's, took fifth at the 1984 Summer Games.
"Zach proved once again that he is a world-class athlete," UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. "To finish seventh at the Olympics, the biggest competition of his life, is awesome. Zach has competed all year with such passion. We are very proud of him and will certainly miss him.
"He has been a tremendous ambassador for Itasca, Illinois, the University of Wisconsin and Team USA. I wish him continued success as he continues his career as a professional athlete and thank him for everything he did for our program."
Ziemek was the second American finisher behind Ashton Eaton, who tied the Olympic decathlon record with a score of 8,893 points to win his second straight gold medal.
Ziemek began the second day of competition in 10th place heading in the 110 hurdles, where he crossed the line in 14.77 seconds.
He then set his first personal-best mark of the competition in the discus. After throwing the disc 148 feet, 8 inches on his first attempt, he threw 162-1 before letting out a signature celebratory yell. His mark, which ranked third-best in the field, moved him up to sixth place after seven events.
In the pole vault, Ziemek's specialty, he cleared 16-4 3/4 and 16-8 3/4 with ease before needing a pair of attempts to soar 17-0 3/4. He came close to making it over the bar at 17-4 1/2, which would have been a season best, but was unable to attain the mark.
Sitting in fifth place after eight events, Ziemek started the javelin competition with a mark of 187-10.
His final two throws were two of the best of his career. The second effort went 197-7, more than six feet beyond his previous personal best, and his final throw sailed 199-10 to keep him in fifth place after nine events.
Ziemek ended the decathlon with a time of 4:42.97 in the 1500 meters, less than a half second off his personal best in the event, to finish just 21 points shy of his career-best decathlon score.
"I'm going to take a little rest and get back at it in a couple of months," Ziemek said about his future. "I have my eyes focused on the world championships next year."
"Double Z" became the second Badger to earn a top-10 finish on the track this week, as former Wisconsin standout Evan Jager finished second in the steeplechase on Wednesday to win Team USA's first medal in that event since 1984.
Two more Badgers compete on Saturday at the Summer Games as Gwen Jorgensen competes in the triathlon at 9 a.m. (CT) and former UW distance star Mohammed Ahmed races in the 5000 meters at 7:30 p.m. Both events will air live on NBC.
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