BEIJING — Bryan Clay has won the decathlon at the Beijing Games, the first American man to win the 10-discipline event at the Olympics since 1996.

The 2004 Olympic silver medalist and 2005 world champion, Clay finished with 8,791 points, including 522 in the 1,500 meters late Friday.

The competition started with the 100 in heavy rain on Thursday morning.

Andrei Krauchanka of Belarus took silver at 8,551, and Leonel Suarez of Cuba was third in 8,527.

Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic, the reigning world and Olympic champion, finished sixth.

Dan O’Brien was the last U.S. athlete to win the Olympic decathlon, at Atlanta in 1996.