http://racingnews.runnersworld.com/2011/03/a-brief-chat-with-tyson-gay-2.html#more-16052
Photos by Victah Sailer
2010 NYC Diamond LeagueTyson Gay was the USA Male Track & Field Athlete of the Year in 2007 and 2009. In 2007, he won World Championships gold medals in the 100 and 200 and 4×100 relay; in 2009, he set an American record of 9.69 in the 100 and was a Worlds silver medalist in the 100 behind Usain Bolt of Jamaica. The highlight of Gay’s 2010 season was a 100-meter victory over Bolt in Stockholm, but his year also included four Diamond League 100-meter wins plus a victorious 19.72 for 200 meters in Stockholm. His career best in the 200 is 19.58. Originally from Kentucky, Gay attended the University of Arkansas and was the 2004 NCAA 100-meter champion.
When does your outdoor season begin, and what meets do you have lined up?
Tyson Gay: I’m pretty much going to stick to the same schedule I stuck with last year, most likely. I’m going to start out with some relay races in April, some 4×400s in Florida, things like that. That’s how my season’s going to kick off.
And what about serious 100-meter races? When would they start?
TG: I don’t have one lined up yet, but as of right now, I know New York (on June 11) is on my list to be sure.
Unlike in 2009, you don’t have an automatic qualifier for the World Championships as defending champion (he had a “bye” in both the 100 and 200 two years ago). Are you going to try and double in the 100 and the 200 this year, as the USA Championships and then the Worlds?
TG: As of right now, that’s the focus. But we’re just seeing how training is going day by day.
Obviously, you got an awful lot of attention for your victory over Usain Bolt in Stockholm last year. I know that you always believe that a win like that could happen at any time, but can you give some idea of what that victory meant to you?
TG: It meant a lot. It wasn’t the fact that it was just Usain Bolt. It meant a lot because I was undefeated the whole year in the 100-meter dash. And to beat someone of that caliber, of course is something that gives you a confident booster whether it’s an off-year (one without a global championship) or not. At the end of the day, he’s a great athlete, so anytime you’re in that same range, it feels great.
When people talk about what’s ‘good for the sport,’ they obviously think a strong rivalry like yours with Bolt would get people who are not normally track fans interested in the sport. Do you feel a responsibility to honor this rivalry because of the importance it might have to fans who might otherwise not be paying attention to track?
TG: To a certain extent I do. But I don’t try and think about that too much, because I know what it means to the fans who do know about track and field, 2010 Gateshead Diamond Leagueand it means a lot to them. So that’s why I always want to do the best that I can. I really believe that this so-called rivalry is because we’re two different personalities as well. That alone brings more excitement to the sport. I’m a little bit more quiet, he’s a little bit more outspoken. But for the fans who don’t really follow track too much, I think as long as we run fast, they’re going to hear about it.
You’ve had a long offseason since your last serious sprints. What’s the most important thing to do in the offseason to make sure you stay healthy and at least somewhat sharp and you don’t completely use your edge? How do you really spend months like October, November, and December.
TG: Well, that’s actually when I start working out, and I ease back into training. I do some longer runs and stay off the track. I don’t get on the track until February, pretty much. For about eight weeks, I’m on the grass, doing grass runs and taking time and being patient. I don’t want to rush back after a long season.
What might surprise us the most about those long workouts? For a sprinter like you,what are long runs?
TG: Basically, no longer than 400 meters. I do a lot of hills, 300 meters up hills, 200 meters up hills, and some short hills as well, and basically cross fields. If you take a football field, I’m basically running from one side of the end zone to the other side of the (other) end zone.
For someone like you who’s had a hamstring problem in the past, is that something you have to be constantly aware of, warming it up properly? Is there scar tissue to deal with?
TG: My scar tissue’s pretty much all gone. I’ve had some of the best physios (physical therapists) working on me for the past few years. But you’re absolutely correct about warming your hamstrings up, stretching correctly, icing after a hard workout and trying to rebuild some of the micro-tears that appear when you’re running pretty fast and lifting weights.
Where are you training now, and with whom? Who’s in the group?
TG: In Clermont, Florida, with Coach Launce Brauman. We have Debbie Ferguson; she’s from the Bahamas. Steve Mullins from Jamaica. Kelly Ann-Baptiste from Trinidad (actually, from Tobago). Ramone McKenzie from Jamaica. We have a well-rounded group, a lot of people from different places. We have a lot of young guys in the group as well, so I’m the oldest guy in the group right now. I’m the father figure, I would say.
Speaking of young guys, did you watch Mike Rodgers take the overall Visa Championship Series indoors by winning the 60-meter dash at the USA Indoor Championships in 6.48 seconds? Are you impressed by his performance and is he one of the guys who’s going to be tough to beat in the 100 at the USATF meet outdoors?
TG: Yeah, I’m impressed. The time he ran is world class. Any time you run under 6.5 is world class. I’ve got to give him his props. I’ve seen some changes in his mechanics when he got to about 40 or 50 meters. Of course, I study all my competitors. He’s definitely looking pretty good and in this outdoor season, he’ll be sharp and ready to run.
People who follow track are always concerned about the American relay teams. Considering the strength of our sprinters, there always seem to be problems when the big championships come along. Do you have any thoughts about what can be done? Does there need to just be more time practicing together?
TG: I don’t want to say I think less time, but we don’t get to spend much time. I know you would probably say that if you all practice more, you all would get the stick around. But when you’re in that type of environment and you’re working with new people every year – it’s not just consistently the same team. Great Britain and Jamaica pretty much know what team they’re going to put together. To make a long story short, as an American, and as a veteran, I think it’s up to me to start talking to the younger guys and say “let’s go out there and have fun” versus “let’s not drop the stick, guys.” When you already think like that, that’s what gives people the jitters. You overthink and drop the stick. The year before last, it was an out-of-zone exchange. There are just a lot of careless mistakes that shouldn’t happen, but we will fix that.
Bolt is 6’5" and…you’re not. Could you define the differences between the two of you as runners, and mention what strengths each of you has? Are you always going to be a better starter because of your size?
TG: Right now, I haven’t been a better starter. But history has shown taller guys haven’t been better starters than shorter guys, so he (Bolt) has actually found out something which is unique, to get those long limbs moving faster sooner. I just have to stay healthy and focus what I have to focus on, to use my short legs to my advantage and open up my stride length as big as I can to match his stride length, because it’s so long.
You’re on your way to doing a ‘Live Chat’ with the public. Are the public relations aspects of this sport something you’re getting more comfortable with?
TG: Yeah, I think so. One of my trainers in Arkansas who used to do all of my rehab watched some of my interviews and said “you’ve come a long way since 2005, when I watched you do interviews.” Rich Kenah, who does all of marketing and sets up my interviews, says he can definitely see a more mature person doing interviews and having more fun instead of being so shy. I’m a shy guy, but I’m getting more comfortable interacting with my fans and stuff