Last week, world record holder and 2X Olympic decathlon champion, Aston Eaton, announced his retirement from track and field. His wife who represented Canada, 2016 world indoor pentathlon champion, Brianne Theisen-Eaton, has also announced her retirement from the sport.

"Why the world's greatest athlete?" one may ask.

One may claim it could be Lebron James, Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, and so on. But when it comes down to it, it's Ashton Eaton.

Let me tell you why.

When you compete in a decathlon, it doesn't test what you and your teammates can do with a ball and a net, or even a bat and a ball. It doesn't singly test speed or endurance. It doesn't single out one skill or strength an athlete may have. The decathlon tests speed, strength, endurance, stamina, skill, determination - the list is endless.

Competing in a decathlon tests pure physical ability, as well as mental ability. It tests an athletes every aspect of athleticism. Sure, Lebron James could beat Eaton in a game of basketball, and probably a 60m dash. But could he beat him in every event that the decathlon consists of - a 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and a 1500m? I'd think not. Same goes for the other athletes I listed.

As Ashton has stated: you see somebody on a football field make a great, athletic 70-yard run, but the athleticism is immeasurable. It's undoubtedly athletic, but compared to somebody else who did something else, how do you compare it? That's the great part of track and field. It's a test, but with results that you can compare to others.

To win the decathlon, you can't only be fast or just be strong, you have to be all of the above and more. Eaton couldn't have a strength and some weaknesses - every single characteristic he possessed had to be a strength, or he couldn't have won.

Just think about it. Think how versatile and talented one has to be to earn the title of the Olympic decathlon champion - two times, I must add. It is insane what Eaton's body and mind could endure to be able to claim his spot as an Olympic champion twice. He had also just came back from an injury when he won the decathlon in the 2016 Olympics, which makes him even more remarkable.

Eaton deserves the title as "the world's greatest athlete" all the more because he does not believe that he is the world's greatest athlete. When watching him in the 2016 Olympics, after winning the decathlon, he was interviewed. I remember the interviewer asking what he felt about being known as the world's greatest athlete. He said something along the lines of, "I think tat titles are for, I don't know, books and stuff. I just like what I'm doing." Eaton was being 100% serious - no sarcasm, nothing. For him to be that talented of an athlete and believe he is not the world's greatest because of his humble mindset is admirable.

Now that Eaton and his wife Brianne are retired, they can sit back and enjoy the rest of their lives together. They can feel proud in undoubtably being the world's most athletic couple, and relish all their memories of being Olympic athletes. I am sad to see them leave track and field as they are both so gifted, but I am happy that they will be able to start a family if they wish and enjoy other things (besides track and field) together.

Thanks to Ashton Eaton for respresenting the United States well, and I hope he and Brianne live a life filled with happiness; they both more than deserve it.

"To be with the other two-time gold medalists is great, but it's great to just be a decathlete." - Ashton Eaton