WHOOPS! Can someone edit the title? He’s a Michigan graduate from back in 2017. NOT a current student.
Glad to!
Woot! Steven Bastien, University of Michigan grad finished 2nd in the decathlon trials, and is heading to Tokyo! First athlete from UofM to ever reach the olympics decathlon. Steve set 8 personal bests over the past 2 days to finish second. Now he has another month to practice, who knows what he can accomplish in Tokyo?!? #GoBlue!
8 personal bests is mind blowing.
Steve's score of 8485 today is the 4th highest decathlon score of 2021!
https://www.worldathletics.org/records/toplists/combined-events/decathlon/outdoor/men/senior/2021
#GoBlue
He grew up in Saline too, I believe, so it's nice to see one's own - admittedly adopted in my case (moved there when I was in middle school), but still - hometown in the Olympics.
That's great. I coached Steve way back in flag football in Saline. Maybe I should have gotten him the ball more often?
Ha, unless you got him the ball on every play and then went undefeated, I suspect there is no "maybe" about needing to have gotten him the ball more often :)
On a more serious note, would you have guessed at that time he'd go on to be an Olympic athlete?
No way. At that age you're just trying to teach them some basics and you want them to love the game so they continue. We were focused on getting everyone involved and spreading the fun around. There was definitely a huge range in athletic ability, and Steven was fast, but he didn't stand head and shoulders above everyone else.
Pretty sure he did not go into youth tackle football, but started finding his niche with track in middle school.
Very cool and sort of surprising that a future Olympic decathlete didn't necessarily stand out at that age and in that context. I'm going to have to reevaluate how I approach coaching under 8 soccer this year :)
Just an amazing performance! Dude had the speed to win the 100m in 10.52 and still had the power to finish top 6 in the shot put. Not to mention 2nd in the 1500m at 4:22.
And an electronically timed 100m at 10.52 is just flying. Not sure the entire Michigan football team has a guy that can run under 10.52.
Glanced by and thought it said Steve Breaston. I'm getting old.