Bryan Clay: Hurdles DQ at US Olympic Track Trials May Sink Decathlon Favorite

U.S. track and field star Bryan Clay's bid to become the first person to ever win three Olympic medals in the decathlon at the London Games hit a major hurdle on Saturday—literally. 

While running the 110-meter hurdles at the U.S. track and field trials in Oregon, the 2008 decathlon gold medalist hit the ninth hurdle, which caused him to stumble and push over the last hurdle. According to Reuters, Clay was disqualified as a result.

The hurdles were the first event of the second and final day of decathlon competition. Clay began the day in third place and was in prime position to make a return to trip to the Olympics.

However, those hopes appear to have been quickly dashed.

Besides needing to finish in the top three, competitors also had to break the 8,200 points barrier. Clay had just 4,252 points and was in 16th place after the DQ.

This did not deter Clay from continuing to compete, though. He came out for the next event, the discus, but fouled on all three throws and again received zero points. This leaves Clay in a virtually unmanageable situation, as his zero points in the events leave him in last place.

At 32 years old, this is the end of Clay's marvelous Olympic career. He won the silver in the 2004 Olympics and followed that up with a dominant performance in the 2008 games. Clay won the decathlon gold by 240 points, which was the largest margin of victory since 1972. 

To reach the Olympics that year, Clay set a U.S. trials record, with 8,832 points.

Along with Ashton Eaton and Trey Hardee, Clay was one of three Americans many felt would contend for the gold at these Games.