By Eddie Pells
DALIAN, China, Aug 5 AP - American sprinter Tyson Gay says his hamstring is feeling better and he’ll be healthy and ready to go when the Olympic 100 metre races start next week.
``When I step on the line in Beijing, don’t worry. I’ll be ready to go,’’ Gay said before departing for China from Munich, Germany, where he had been training.
He has decided to fly to Beijing and skip going to the US Track team’s training camp in Dalian because he wants to be at Friday’s opening ceremony.
Qualifying in the highly anticipated 100m dash starts August 15.
Gay, the defending world champion in the 100m and 200m, hurt his hamstring early last month at the US Olympic trials while running in preliminary heats in the 200m. He already had qualified for the 100m.
He pulled out of a race in London on July 25, saying he wanted to rest to ensure he was healthy for the Olympics.
In the 100m, Gay is expected to contend along with world-record holder Usain Bolt and the man Bolt took the record from, fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell.
A statement released by Gay’s manager said he has been on a gradual return to high-level training, that he was joined in Munich by his coach Jon Drummond on July 22 and that since July 11 he has been undergoing treatment from an orthopaedic specialist in Munich.
At past Olympics, all potential members of the 400m relay team have been asked to report to the US training camp to work out and practice passing the baton.
USA Track has said Gay, expected to be part of that team, will not be required to come.
I’m hearing that he’s ok as well.
Gay vs Powell in Gateshead – IAAF World Athletics Tour
Tyson Gay outclasses Asafa Powell in the final stages of the men’s 100m final (Getty Images)
Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell are set for a showdown in Gateshead just a fortnight after the Olympic 100m final.
The pair will meet at the Aviva British Grand Prix, which is part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2008, on 31 August in what is likely to be a highlight of the first athletics meeting in the UK after the Beijing Olympic Games.
It will be the first time they will have raced against each other in an IAAF Grand Prix status meeting this year.
Powell is the Commonwealth champion and former World record holder. He equalled his then World record of 9.77 the last time he ran in Gateshead two years ago.
Gay, the current World champion at 100m and 200m, was due to meet Powell, the World 100m bronze medallist at the recent Aviva London Grand Prix but had to withdraw due to an ongoing hamstring problem.
“It was just too much of a risk for me to run in London and I apologise to the British fans for not running there. But I promise I will make it up to them in Gateshead,” said Gay.
This summer, Gay has so far a best of 9.77 and Powell has 9.82 to his credit.
The Gateshead meeting will also be the first outing post-Beijing for the majority of Britain’s returning track and field stars.
Andrew Wallace for the IAAF
i would love to see Gay come through the rounds like he does, and pull out a win in the final.
Usain - wonder how he will hold up with the oly rounds in the 100m. If Usain will be beat, it will be the rounds that beat him. Usain Not knowing his own speed during the rounds “could” be his only downfall.
Asafa, has learned the hard way with rounds - its sounding like he has learned? Wouldnt be supprised to see him win, if he does, i believe he will win with a margin.
We will see!