by Pirate Irwin
BEIJING, Aug 12, 2008 (AFP) - America’s 100 metres world champion Tyson Gay has admitted that he is under pressure not to rain on Jamaica’s parade and take the Olympic crown.
The 26-year-old - who is coming back from a hamstring injury he suffered in early July - added that he didn’t know the mental state of play of either world record holder Usain Bolt (9.72sec on May 31 in New York) or predecessor as record holder Asafa Powell (9.74sec) and if they would be able to handle the pressure placed on them.
The duo are bidding to give the Caribbean island their first ever 100m title - Don Quarrie came closest when second to Trindad and Tobago’s Hasely Crawford in 1976 (Quarrie was to win the 200m title).
A Jamaican came up to me in the cafeteria (in the athletes village) and said to me 'I hope you don't break up our sweep (1-2)','' revealed Gay. The national coach is expecting a 1-2 as well.’’
However, Gay said that all that sort of talk could only add pressure to 21-year-old Bolt and Powell, who has admitted that he cracked in last year’s world championship final - the latest in a series of finals where he has failed to deliver.
I don't know how he's (Bolt) taking it,'' said Gay. It’s a lot of pressure. People both inside and outside Jamaica expect him to win it.
It's the first time he's run a series of 100m races. However he’s a different type of guy to previous record holders.
He may take it a little easier than the others because he likes to go out and have fun,'' added Gay, who is the new American record holder having run 9.77sec in the quarter-finals at the US trials. As for 25-year-old Powell, Gay was not sure how to read him. I am not sure what the situation is with him,’’ said Gay, who unlike several of his American predecessors enjoys good relations with his major rivals.
I raced him when he broke the world record and I know he was upset to lose it as he held it very dear to him. He is under a lot of pressure to win gold.
However, I don't know where his mind is at at the moment. But I do know that he is usually strong and confident.'' As for which of the three will start favourite, Gay was pretty certain it should be Bolt. It is a hard question, but usually it is the fastest man in the world either in the season if the record hasn’t been broken which obviously it has been,’’ said Gay.
For me especially mentally coming off the hamstring injury was scary. There are a lot of people looking to me to do something and have faith in me.
``It will be mostly about handling the pressure the best.’’
Gay said that all the hype surrounding the ‘blue riband’ event was justified and that the trio would not let the crowd down.
There hasn't been so much hype over the 100 metres dash for a long time,'' said Gay. It is justified as Powell is a strong and dominant runner while Bolt lights up the track.
The two Jamaicans have done things that have never been seen before. And then I am the world champion and the American record holder.
``There you have three guys who can run 9.7sec so anything can happen.’’
However, unlike the bitter rivalry that existed between Maurice Greene and Donovan Bailey or for a time Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson, when the race is done and dusted the trio will remain friends said Gay.
Our personal relationship is pretty simple,'' said Gay. When I see them they have my respect,’’ he said.