SALEM, Ore. – Olympic gold medal winner Ashton Eaton thanked Oregon lawmakers for supporting track athletes like him. The Oregon native shot to worldwide fame last year when he won the gold medal in the decathlon at the London summer games.
He addressed members of the Oregon Senate Thursday.
"I feel so strongly about this state and I can't express enough how much I appreciate the work that is done within these wood walls that may -- unknowingly by most of you in here -- help me do what I'm able to do every day."
Eaton was born in Portland and spent much of his childhood near Bend before graduating from the University of Oregon. After his brief remarks, he posed for photos with several lawmakers.
On the Web:
Ashton Eaton profile - Team USA