The world’s best athlete is back to defend his gold — and his unofficial title.

American Ashton Eaton, who claimed the gold medal in the decathlon at the 2012 Olympics, begins his quest in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday to become the first athlete to win the event in back-to-back Games since Great Britain’s Daley Thompson (1980, 1984).

Since his triumph in London four years ago, Eaton’s dominance in the decathlon has only increased. One of two athletes ever to surpass 9,000 points, Eaton, 28, set the world record last August (9,045) and enters the event as a massive favorite, having finished first in every major competition since taking the gold. The Oregon native holds the all-time decathlon-best marks in the 400-meter dash (45 seconds) and the long jump (8.23 meters).

Eaton runs onto the world’s biggest stage just a few days after his wife, Brianne Theisen-Eaton, stood on the Olympic podium. A Canadian and fellow former Oregon Duck, Theisen-Eaton won the bronze in the heptathlon.

During the event, Eaton watched from the stands, supporting his spouse by wearing a red Canada hat. The internet then enabled a new round of idiocy to emerge, criticizing Eaton for being a “traitor.”

Eaton responded on Twitter:

Have I not represented USA well? Yet u demand more. Ur respect is hard earned. I support the country that produced my wife;who ru2 shame me?

— Ashton Eaton (@AshtonJEaton) August 13, 2016

Are your grandparents from another country? Will your grandchildren be? What then? Hopefully you'll adopt a more reasonable view.

— Ashton Eaton (@AshtonJEaton) August 13, 2016

Now, he’s back wearing the red, white and blue, back to reassert his claim as the world’s best athlete.