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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 3:17 p.m., Friday, August 29, 2008

BRYAN CLAY READY TO LIVE 'IT UP FOR A LITTLE BIT'
Bryan Clay ready to live 'it up for a little bit'

By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Olympic gold medalist Bryan Clay and his wife, Sarah, arrived at Honolulu International Airport on Thursday evening.

REBECCA BREYER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Bryan Clay speaks to the media at the Honolulu International Airport.

REBECCA BREYER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Olympic gold medalist Bryan Clay becomes third decathlon champion in a row to "Eat his Wheaties."

Wheaties photo

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Decathlete Bryan Clay is featured on a special-edition Wheaties package.

Wheaties photo

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Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bryan Clay of Kane'ohe returned to Honolulu Thursday night spreading aloha.

"It's good to be able to get back and celebrate and have a good time," said Clay, a 1998 Castle High graduate. "Hopefully we put Hawai'i on the map this Olympics. It wasn't just me, it was a bunch of other people that did really, really well and I'm looking forward to, like I said, celebrating and, you know, living it up for a little bit."

Clay, accompanied by his wife Sarah and children Jacob and Katherine, arrived on American Airlines flight 267 from Los Angeles around 11 p.m.

"It's getting there," Clay said when asked if his accomplishment in the Beijing Games had yet sunk in. "We've been doing a lot of media and some crazy, crazy things. Opportunities galore have been coming my way, which is really nice. ... It starts to make you feel like it's really happening. It's been fun, I can't complain."

Earlier this week, Clay was on "Late Show with David Letterman," where he threw a javelin through a New York City taxi cab window as part of his guest appearance.

"It was a lot of fun," Clay said.

Clay is also featured on a Wheaties cereal box, which was unveiled Thursday morning.

"I remember, me with my brother, we would look at who was on the Wheaties box when we were growing up and that was kind of the pinnacle of your career to get on the Wheaties box," Clay said. "It's kind of a prestigious honor, so I'm really looking forward to being on that and having that come out and having everybody be able to buy that. I'm looking forward to taking my son down the cereal aisle and him being able to see me on the Wheaties box. "

Clay, who won silver at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, took first in the 100-meter dash, long jump and discus throw to win the decathlon by more than 200 points last week.

He is scheduled to make a public appearance today at the Royal Grove at the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki. The event, which is open to the public, starts at 3 p.m. with autograph signing from about 4 to 5 p.m.

Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.