Ashton Eaton of the United States toiled to Olympic gold in the men's decathlon on Thursday with an overall score of 8,869 points.
Eaton led by 151 points going into the final event, the 1,500 meters, and delivered the average run he needed for gold in four minutes, 33.59 seconds.
Eaton's countryman and double world champion Trey Hardee claimed the silver with 8,671 points, and Leonel Suarez of Cuba took the bronze on 8,523.
"The one-two finish was what we really wanted," Eaton said. "Trey and I are doing our best to carry on the great history of decathletes."
Eaton came close to the 9,039 world record he set during the U.S. trials in June, but needed to shatter his personal best by six seconds to break it.
But perfection was still some way off, he said.
"I want 10 perfect events. I know that's pretty much impossible but that's the decathlon. I'd need that to be considered the world's greatest all-round athlete."
Hardee, meanwhile, said the achievement would take some while to sink in.
"As the days, weeks and months and years pass, I will look back and realise how special this is and what it means."
Suarez said it was only sub-standard training facilities that stopped him from medaling higher.
"Maybe if I had the same high-tech advantages like in the USA then I could have reached the silver medal instead."
