MOSCOW (Reuters) – After a stellar 2012 that brought two world records and Olympic decathlon gold, Ashton Eaton was ready for a rest. What he had not bargained for was the physical and mental toll his achievements took out of him. The American multi-eventer, hailed by sprint king Usain Bolt as the world’s greatest athlete, said his exploits had left him this year “feeling physically worn down”. “I feel like a little bit more fragile this year for some reason,” Eaton, favourite to win gold at the world championships in Moscow, told a news conference at the Luzhniki stadium on Wednesday. “I’m usually pretty robust, nothing really bothers me too much. This year, little things have here and there … and my coach said the year after the Olympics you are kind of physically worn out. “You see a lot of Olympic champions that are not at this (world championships) meet because it does take a toll on mind and body.” more
