Andrew Pereira
KHON2 News
Click here to watch the Bryan Clay Shines in Beijing Video!
Born in Texas but raised in Kaneohe, Castle High School graduate Bryan Clay won
the gold medal in the decathlon Friday in Beijing.
Clay’s 240 point
victory is the most lopsided win in the track and field event since the 1972
games in Munich.
Relatives in Hawaii burned the midnight oil Thursday
while keeping track of Clay’s progress.
Lorreta Monroy was in constant
contact with family members who were watching Clay compete in Beijing’s Birdnest
Stadium.
“After every event they would call us and say how many points
Bryan’s leading with; he’s still in the running; he’s still number one,” said
Monroy, who works as a chef instructor at Windward Community college where she
erected a tribute to her newphew inside the cafeteria.
“For an aunt or
anybody in the family that’s been able to see this little boy grow up and follow
his goals and his dreams and being a witness to seeing him achieve all of this
has been unbelievable.”
The 2004 Olympic silver medalist in Athens and
2005 world champion, Clay, 28, finished with 8,791 points while competing in
China.
The competition started with the 100 meter run in heavy rain
Thursday.
Andrei Krauchanka of Belarus took silver at 8,551, and
Leonel
Suarez of Cuba was third in 8,527.
Roman Sebrle of the Czech
Republic, the reigning world and
Olympic champion, finished sixth.
Dan
O’Brien was the last U.S. athlete to win the Olympic
decathlon, at Atlanta in
1996.
Clay, who lives in Glendora, California will visit Hawaii for three
days starting August 29.
An autograph party will be held that day at the
Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center starting at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
Andrew may be reached at apereira@khon2.com or ph. 591-4263.
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