Olympic decathlon champion Ashton Eaton needed six stitches after being hit in the head by a falling pole vault bar at the U.S. Indoor Championships in Portland, Ore., on Friday, according to his social media.
Eaton, the Olympic and World decathlon champion and world-record holder, finished last in his 60m heat and then sixth in the long jump at U.S. Indoors.
The head gash came during the long jump, near the pole vault area.
He took his first jump and, between jumps, was standing next to the pole vault pit when a falling bar from a vaulter’s miss went flying into his forehead, according to the Oregonian. Bleeding, he left the track to get cleaned up and returned with a bandaged head, taking two more jumps.
Eaton is preparing to compete in the heptathlon at the World Indoor Championships, also in Portland next week. He’s the reigning World champion and world-record holder in that event, too.
NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra will have live coverage of the final day of the U.S. Indoor Championships on Saturday from 8-10 p.m. ET.
MORE: What Caitlyn Jenner told Ashton Eaton after decathlon world record
https://www.instagram.com/p/BC3fxCUJqyu/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BC3HeM4ORdA/
@WeAreEaton @AshtonJEaton a little blood isn't going to stop the World's greatest athlete. Stitches after the comp. pic.twitter.com/dNtCmcj4eX
— Paul Doyle (@TrackDiddy) March 12, 2016
Got jacked up tonight. Got owned in 60m. Sub par LJ, & hit with the PV crossbar; 6 stitches! Ready 4 #Portland2016 pic.twitter.com/cGQLj4ViSc
— Ashton Eaton (@AshtonJEaton) March 12, 2016
.@RunnerSpace_com Not bad. I hope they use the same cross bar for #Portland2016. Going to payback with a PV PR. pic.twitter.com/q0xx2Ff34R
— Ashton Eaton (@AshtonJEaton) March 12, 2016