Millions of Americans proudly watched Dan O'Brien win the 1996 Olympic Gold Medal to become the first American winner in the sport since 1976. As an Olympic Gold Medalist in the decathlon, Dan O'Brien is officially considered the "World's Greatest Athlete," and his name is synonymous with athletic achievement and success both on and off the field.

Adopted at the age of two, and raised in a home with seven other children of racially mixed backgrounds - Dan has overcome many adversities throughout his life. And with a great deal of self-determination and commitment, he has become one of the most successful and dominant athletes in the history of sports. He is an inspirational leader and motivational force for millions of people across the world.

At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Dan O'Brien overcame almost insurmountable odds. Four years prior, on Super Bowl Sunday early in 1992, Reebok introduced its unprecedented Dan & Dave campaign, a series of entertaining TV and print ads featuring Dan and rival Dave Johnson, debating who would take the title as the "World's Greatest Athlete" in Barcelona.

This publicity also provided for one of the most publicized failures in sports history when Dan "no-heighted" in the pole vault and failed to qualify for the 1992 Olympic team headed for Barcelona. All of Dan's hard work had come to an end...or had it?

Dan O'Brien has spent his entire life overcoming obstacles. After encouragement from family, friends and coaches, he set new goals and began the journey that eventually established him as the most prolific decathlete in history. Only months after the failure to make the 1992 Olympic team, he set a new World Record at the Deca Star Invitational in Talence, France - defeating the 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Robert Zmelik. He didn't stop there. He went on to win the 1993 and 1995 World Championships, the 1994 Goodwill Games, and three US Championships - all leading to the 1996 Olympic Gold Medal in Atlanta.