 In March at the Australian Multiple Events Championships in Canberra, he wore his WSU jersey throughout the championships, which enraged some of his fellow countrymen, and regained his national decathlon title with a score of 7814 points.Shirley's career personal best score of 8036 points was achieved at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, where he finished 15th behind gold medalist Christian Schenk of East Germany.Shirley continued to compete for Australia throughout 1989 but thereafter stated his intention to return to his birth nation of England and compete for Great Britain.