By Kate Hairopoulos
The Dallas Morning News
(MCT)
BEIJING - Tyson Gay, the fastest man in America, celebrated his 26th birthday with the dramatic lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the Bird’s Nest at about 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
Perhaps he made a wish for a gold medal - or even a world record.
To make it come true, Gay will have to blaze 100 meters faster than two superstar Jamaicans: Usain Bolt, the world record holder, and Asafa Powell, the former world record holder.
I think this is one of the hottest 100-meter dashes ever in history,'' said the soft-spoken Gay, who trains part of the year in Arlington, Texas, with coach and TCU-ex Jon Drummond, during a news conference on Monday. There hasn’t been this much hype in a long time.’’
The qualifying begins Friday and the final is Saturday.
But first things first. The last we saw Gay he was crumpled on the track at the U.S. Olympic trials July 5 in Eugene, Ore. Just days after he set the American record of 9.77 seconds and ran a wind-aided 9.68 seconds the fastest time ever in the 100, Gay strained his left hamstring in a 200 quarterfinal.
It ruined the world champion’s chances of an Olympic double, and put the 100 in doubt.
But after spending the last month in Germany receiving care from a doctor who Gay said is a hamstring specialist, he pronounced his leg 100 percent.'' I don’t have any aches or twitching or anything like that,’’ he said. I'm really confident that it's going to hold up.'' Gay said he hasn't been bothered by Beijing's pollution, calling the air great.’’
Gay, a Lexington, Ky., native who ran at Arkansas, doesn’t have the same bravado or cockiness some sprinters are known for. Asked about his relationship with Bolt and Powell, Gay said I have much respect.'' When Bolt set the record of 9.72 doing it against Gay in May in New York -it motivated Gay. In order to beat him, I have to run 9.6 most likely,’’ Gay said. That's kind of what I train my mind to do, to run a 9.6.'' Gay, who admits he sometimes shakes with nerves in the starting blocks, is an unabashed momma's boy. He calls Daisy Gay Lowe when he gets anxious. He loves having family close by at meets his daughter is among his support group here. He appeared genuinely impressed with his status in Beijing. In Arlington, he can tool around anonymously. I’ve never had so many people want to take my picture or tell me ‘you can do it,’’’ he said. That motivates me as well 'cause I don't want to let people down.'' Count Kobe Bryant, here with the U.S. men's basketball team, among his fans. I asked him could I take a picture with him so I could have it for memories,’’ Gay recounted, and he asked, 'how's your leg? I'm going to check you out, I'll keep you in my heart.' I texted my mom…It was just amazing.’’