Gatlin is sprinting’s dark horse
D.C. Reeves • dcreeves@pnj.com • January 11, 2009
Buzz up! With little in the way of case study, it’s hard to safely theorize what the future holds for Justin Gatlin’s once-dominating track career.
We’ve seen NBA players, once considered too old to play, rejuvenate their careers. We’ve seen NFL players come back to thrive once again. We’ve seen baseball players overcome steroid use and somehow dissipate the dark cloud of doubt hanging over their on-field skill and off-field reputations.
But a comeback is what Gatlin, an Olympic champion and Woodham High School graduate, faces. Bottom line? In track, we’ve never seen someone pull off a comeback like this.
Long-shot proposition
His well documented four-year ban from track and field — which began in 2006 — lasts until July of 2010, putting him more than 18 months away from competitive sprinting.
He will be 28 by the time the ban is lifted, putting him in unchartered territory among the track and field community. Age 28 in track is like 40 in football, 45 in baseball or 65 in golf. When you’re hoping to run an event like the 100 meters against the world’s best, your older body just doesn’t let you compete at the same level again.
But when you hear him talk about a comeback, his confidence is what makes the long-shot proposition intriguing. He’s heard it all. He knows he’s not supposed to make a comeback of this proportion. He knows about his grim chances and that knows no one in the track and field community expects to see him win another official race. Ever.
“People ask me if I still have it or if I’m too old,” said Gatlin, smiling, as he donned USA Track & Field warm-ups that seemed to fit just right. “But I think my time off has preserved my legs. I still have the same speed — I’ve been running, and I’m still getting times that I had when I stepped off the track. So it’s still there. The dedication is there and the will is there.”
Speed specialist
He went a step beyond that. He says his block times (starting times) right now actually are better than they were in his prime. Yes, better than his 2004 gold medal days.
He’s chomping at the bit to race again, but he’s found some enjoyable distractions in the meantime. Gatlin is residing in Atlanta and is a co-owner of a training facility called The Factory. Surprise, surprise — he’s the speed specialist, training anyone from middle-schoolers to professional athletes in hopes of increasing their speed and agility.
“I want to upset the balance in track and field once again. Obviously, that’s what happened with me, (the ban) did upset the balance in track and field,” Gatlin said. “Now, I want to upset the balance in a positive way. I want to be that dark horse.”
If we see Justin Gatlin race again, he won’t have to worry about being considered the dark horse. He most certainly will be.
The question remains — with the track community’s back turned to one of its disgraced champions, can Gatlin get back on his own horse and regain greatness? With little in the way of case study, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens in 18 months or less.