Olympic Medalist Brianne Theisen-Eaton Coaches Oregon Teens

When Brooklyn Jones crossed the finish line with a personal best, her coach Brianne Theisen-Eaton nearly jumped for joy, high-fiving everyone in sight. The scene looked like an Olympic celebration, except this time the medal winner was a high school senior, and the champion was cheering from the sidelines.

Theisen-Eaton, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist in heptathlon, is in her first full season coaching sprinters at Sherwood High School. The former University of Oregon star brought home hardware from World Championships and NCAA competitions, but she's found something unexpected on a suburban Oregon track: the same adrenaline rush she felt as an elite athlete.

"I'm shocked with how much I love it," she said at an April invitational meet. "I didn't realize you could have so much adrenaline as a coach."

The 37-year-old Canadian athlete retired from competition in 2017 alongside her husband, Ashton Eaton, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in decathlon. The power couple could have stayed in the spotlight, but they chose to settle in Sherwood, a small town that reminded them of their rural roots.

Now Theisen-Eaton is simply "coach" to her athletes. She works with sprinters of all levels, from top performers to first-timers, creating personalized plans that make training fun while building real skills.

Head coach John Mantalas noticed how naturally she connects with students. "Whether they're the best kid on the team or someone trying it for the first time, she's found a way to make a plan that works for everybody," he said.

Senior Addison Cutsforth calls her "literally one of the best coaches of all time." Another athlete, Brooklyn Jones, appreciates that Theisen-Eaton shares her experiences while staying relatable and understanding what high schoolers face.

Sunny's Take

What makes Theisen-Eaton special isn't just her impressive resume. It's watching her discover that the best part of coaching is seeing athletes surprise themselves with their own potential.

She knows when breakthroughs are coming because she's watched them put in the work. The athletes don't always see it yet, so when they cross that finish line with a new personal record, their shock and joy become her victory.

"You see the smile on their face, and you knew that was coming, but it shocks them," she said. "I think that's the most fun part."

Theisen-Eaton never took this job to stay connected to athletics. She wanted to pass knowledge to the next generation, and in doing so, she's found a new chapter that feels just as rewarding as standing on the podium.

These Sherwood athletes are learning more than sprint technique: they're learning from someone who reached the top of her sport and chose to lift others up next.