Brianne Theisen-Eaton takes bronze in Olympic heptathlon
Canadian rallies on 2nd day of event to reach podium in Rio
By Benjamin Blum, CBC Sports
Brianne Theisen-Eaton has won bronze in the women's heptathlon at the Rio Olympics. She's the first Canadian to win a medal in the event.
After struggling on the first day, the two-time world silver medallist from Humboldt, Sask., fought back with strong performances in the long jump, javelin and 800-metre events.
MEDAL ALERT: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAN?src=hash">#CAN</a>'s Brianne Theisen-Eaton wins <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bronze?src=hash">#bronze</a> in women's heptathlon. <a href="https://t.co/wUNO60h8S7">https://t.co/wUNO60h8S7</a>
—@CBCOlympics"I'm happy with today, really happy with today," Theisen-Eaton told CBC Sports. "I never would have guessed after that kind of first day I would end up with a medal and actually [my] score wasn't half bad either."
Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam won gold and 2012 champion Jessica Ennis-Hill took silver.
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Theisen-Eaton's medal was Canada's 12th medal overall and the first in track and field at these Games. Her bronze matches Canada's lone track medal — a bronze in high jump by Derek Drouin — at the 2012 London Olympics.
"I know I have a good Day 2 and I was confident in that and confident that mentally I could be excited for today and still contend for a medal," Theisen-Eaton said.
With files from The Canadian Press