Gay hungry for gold

Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from Japan

ATHLETICS: American Tyson Gay is hungry for gold. Having come to Osaka without a single major global title, Gay now plans to go back to the United States with a golden triple.

He has already reached two of the hardest milestones towards that goal after his triumphs in men’s 100m and 200m.

But that elusive sprint double is not enough to quench Gay’s thirst for victory. He now plans to anchor the American 100m relay team to victory, a feat that would keep the American speed merchant right on top. True enough he is already on top after that record breaking 19.76 dash to win men’s 200m gold.

That also gave him the fastest aggregate sprint of any double winner at an Olympic Games or World Championships. But Tyson, who celebrated his 25th birthday early this month, declined the chance to say he is the best combination male sprinter in world athletic history.

“I would not say that,” Gay said, asked if he was the greatest 100/200m sprinter of all time. “In order to be the greatest 100/200 all time you have to do it over and over and even do it indoors,” a humble Gay said.

His combined time adds up to 29.61 seconds, erasing the previous fastest at a World Championships, by fellow countryman Maurice Greene in Seville in 1999 (29.70), and the fastest at an Olympic Games, by yet another great American sprinter Carl Lewis in Los Angeles in 1984 (29.79).

Even career best-wise, Gay has the quickest combination timing - a 9.84 and 19.62, both at Indianapolis within the space of three days in last June. But the American track supremo was a tired man and feels exhausted, even to celebrate his 200m victory last night at Nagai Stadium.

“I am extremely tired. I couldn’t think of nothing, even couldn’t put my arms up to celebrate, and couldn’t really do my victory lap around the stadium,” Gay said, adding that he even would skip the men’s 4 x 100m first round heats, unless the US team management really needs his services.

But only a few people are aware of Gay’s unimpressive 200m record. He even failed to make it to the 200m at the 2004 US Olympic trials and narrowly missed a medal at the last 2005 World Championships in Helsinki.

While his team mate Justin Gatlin won the 200m gold in 20.04 seconds in Finland, Gay was placed only fourth with an unimpressive 20.34 seconds.

“Probably the 200m is harder, it means more. The 100 took a lot of focus but I have never won the 200 on the major stage and to come back with the victory after not getting a medal in the 200 in Helsinki feels great. I done it for my coach Lance Brauman, Jon Drummond, my family, God - and I just came out with the victory and it feels great,” Gay said.

Brauman was unable to make it to Osaka as he is serving a prison sentence for fraud and Drummond, winner of 4 x 100m World Championships relay gold medals in 1993 and 1999, has been working as Gay’s technical adviser.

Gay admitted his weakness in accelerating at the bend and that he was threatened by the Jamaican silver medallist Usain Bolt, who clocked 19.91. Gay accepted that the Jamaican gave his a care.

“I am not used to not coming off the curve first and winning, so that just showed that I have a lot of strength and put in a lot of hard work to come back. Coming off the turn I am used to being first and I thought that was going to be the outcome tonight but it wasn’t - Bolt beside me put on a terrific performance,” he added.

Gay added that he tried to run as hard as he could but he still could not come off the bend first. “I thought there was something wrong.

I hardly catch anyone if I don’t reach the bend first. I was hoping he was going

to crack. I was a little nervous, but I just tried to work on my form and relax,” he concluded.

Gay is already a king in the big league. But he could well have his third golden crown on Saturday night if the US team comes first in the men’s 4 x 100m relay final. Osaka Japan