How Aussie mateship on the track saw an injured athlete help his friend to Olympic glory and earn him Australia’s first-ever medal in the decathlon: 'He screamed like a nutter!'

Decathlon star Ash Moloney was roared across the line by his injured countryman Cedric Dubler to win Australia's first athletics medal of the Tokyo Games.

Battling Moloney, 21, took bronze in the decathlon but owed it in huge part to the ferocious encouragement of Dubler who pushed him past his limits in the 1500m.

Dubler, 26, was out of medals contention after injuring his hamstring during the competition. 

But he made sure his Brisbane training partner remained in the running all the way to the finishing line of the 1500m final event of the decathlon.

Decathlon star Ash Moloney was roared across the line by his injured countryman Cedric Dubler to win Australia's first athletics medal of the Tokyo Games

'He was screaming,' Moloney told Channel Seven after the race. 

'I can't repeat what he said. I could hear his voice bouncing in my cranium like a bat out of hell.

'I started hitting a wall at 800m and I was a bit concerned, but I was like, "just stick to Cedric. Don't let him get too far away." He screamed like a nutter!'

Encouraging his teammate every step of the way Dubler admitted he was 'worried' for his friend so 'I just started screaming at him and we got him there.'

Ash Moloney, 21, took bronze in the decathlon but owed it in huge part to the ferocious encouragement of Cedric  Dubler who pushed him past his limits in the 1500m

Moloney added: 'Across the line I saw I got a PB...then I just started crying on the spot. I was like, "I can’t believe this has happened."

'Cedric   very important. He keeps me honest all the time. He always calls me out when I’m being a bit of an idiot. I can’t thank him enough.'

Dubler's selfless mateship on the track won praise from Seven hosts watching the race unfold. 

 Cedric Dubler, 26, was out of medals contention after injuring his hamstring during the competition, but he made sure his Brisbane training partner Ash Moloney remained in the running all the way to the finishing line of the 1500m final event of the decathalon

'When the books shut on Tokyo and there are iconic images from an Olympic Games, Dubler screaming into Moloney’s ear is going to be one of those,' said presenter Andy Maher.

Commentator Bruce McAveney added: 'He has been able to help Ash mentally and now physically right to the end.'

Moloney was in the medals throughout the 10 events and gritted it out in the 1500m to finish third in the race and clinch bronze overall with an Australian record 8649 points.  

Cedric Dubler's selfless mateship on the track won praise from Seven hosts watching the race unfold. Moloney and Dubler are seen here celebrating together after the race

Until Ash Moloney's bronze on Thursday, no Australian had ever finished higher than sixth in an Olympic decathlon. Moloney, lying down, is seen here celebrating with training partner Dubler

He became the third youngest Australian man to win an Olympic track and field medal, behind high jumpers Tim Forsyth and Chilla Porter.

Canada's Damian Warner led from start to finish to win gold in the decathlon with an Olympic record total of 9018 points, while world record holder Kevin Mayer from France got the silver with 8726 points.

Until Thursday, no Australian had ever finished higher than sixth in an Olympic decathlon.