Tyson Gay comes through strong at the end to defeat Asafa Powell in the men's 100m in Thessaloniki (© Getty Images)
29 April 2010Tyson Gay (USA), the 2007 double sprint World champion and the second fastest man in history in the 100m and one of 14 IAAF Diamond League Ambassadors, participated in a media conference call this afternoon.
Gay, who clocked 9.69 to take silver at the World Championships last year, has already confirmed his participation in the IAAF Diamond League meetings in Eugene and Brussels. He will race next at the Jamaica Invitational in Kingston on Saturday, where he will run the 400m.
Some of the teleconference highlights:
On his 44.89 personal best in the 400m (17 April), which made him the first and only sprinter to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m, the 20-second barrier in the 200m and the 45-second barrier in the 400m:
I didn’t realize that I did that until a friend told me. It just happened, I wasn’t planning to run sub-45.
How serious are you with the 400? Are you striving to one day earn a relay spot? Or to challenge in the open 400?
I’ve always had it in me to run a fast 400. I was a state champion in high school in the 400. But I never liked doing it. And my coach told me that if I ran the 400 I wouldn’t be able to do the 100. And I do like running the 100 more. But it’s definitely a goal to make a relay team.
Does he think that his improved speed in the 400 will help him close the gap on Usain Bolt’s 19.19 World record in the 200m? (Incidentally, Gay also has a personal best of 30.8, from a training run, in the 300m.)
I’m trying to find the Michael Johnson way. I have more foot speed than Michael Johnson but I didn’t have his kind of strength. So my goal is to take my strength in the 400 and convert it to 200.
Based on the IAAF event scoring tables, his combined times in the three sprints leaves him behind only Usain Bolt and Michael Johnson. At the moment, Johnson is only four points ahead. Is that a motivation for him?
Anytime you can be mentioned with Usain Bolt and Michael Johnson in the same category is great. I’m going to work for those four points soon!
What does his 44.89 indicate for his season opener in the short sprints?
It relates to it pretty well. I opened up with 45 last year in the 400, then I opened up with 19.5 in the 200. So I think I should be able to open up as fast or faster.
On racing his main rivals, Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, on a regular basis this year in IAAF Diamond League competition:
It’s very exciting! The last time the three of us raced was in (the World Championships final) Berlin and that was a great race. It will be really excited for the fans if they can see a race like that again, and again, and again.
On ‘tuning his mind’ to run fast times:
I do absolutely. Even before Usain Bolt ran 9.69 (at the 2008 Olympics), that was one of my goals. Now I’m training my mind to run even faster.
On running in the same era as Usain Bolt:
It’s a huge motivational factor. If it wasn’t for Usain Bolt I wouldn’t have so many fans and family and friends telling me to keep working hard. He’s helped make track and field now. I’m very thankful that he’s running the times he’s running.
He's competing in the Jamaica Invitational on Saturday in the 400m. Will he be out on the town with Usain Bolt the night before?
(Laughs) I’m actually nervous. When I ran the fast 400 a few weeks ago it was in a small collegiate meet. I’ll have a lot of professional 400 runners in the field on Saturday. So I’m just going to rest and focus on the race.
Off the track, what is his relationship like with Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell?
It’s cool. We actually have a very respectful relationship. It’s a mutual respect for each other and we’ve brought a lot to the sport together.
On his injury setbacks which affected his 2008 and 2009 season:
I think these things happen for a reason. I think these things are setting me up for a great comeback.
I’m 100 per cent right now.
I’m completely pain-free right now. Even when I ran 44 I felt no pain whatsoever.
With the best sprinters meeting regularly in the IAAF Diamond League could the 100m World record be broken this year?
Anything’s possible.
2006 was my best year when I was injury-free, and I was racing Asafa regularly, and I was running really well. So I think this year the World record could come down.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
Gay, who clocked 9.69 to take silver at the World Championships last year, has already confirmed his participation in the IAAF Diamond League meetings in Eugene and Brussels. He will race next at the Jamaica Invitational in Kingston on Saturday, where he will run the 400m.
Some of the teleconference highlights:
On his 44.89 personal best in the 400m (17 April), which made him the first and only sprinter to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m, the 20-second barrier in the 200m and the 45-second barrier in the 400m:
I didn’t realize that I did that until a friend told me. It just happened, I wasn’t planning to run sub-45.
How serious are you with the 400? Are you striving to one day earn a relay spot? Or to challenge in the open 400?
I’ve always had it in me to run a fast 400. I was a state champion in high school in the 400. But I never liked doing it. And my coach told me that if I ran the 400 I wouldn’t be able to do the 100. And I do like running the 100 more. But it’s definitely a goal to make a relay team.
Does he think that his improved speed in the 400 will help him close the gap on Usain Bolt’s 19.19 World record in the 200m? (Incidentally, Gay also has a personal best of 30.8, from a training run, in the 300m.)
I’m trying to find the Michael Johnson way. I have more foot speed than Michael Johnson but I didn’t have his kind of strength. So my goal is to take my strength in the 400 and convert it to 200.
Based on the IAAF event scoring tables, his combined times in the three sprints leaves him behind only Usain Bolt and Michael Johnson. At the moment, Johnson is only four points ahead. Is that a motivation for him?
Anytime you can be mentioned with Usain Bolt and Michael Johnson in the same category is great. I’m going to work for those four points soon!
What does his 44.89 indicate for his season opener in the short sprints?
It relates to it pretty well. I opened up with 45 last year in the 400, then I opened up with 19.5 in the 200. So I think I should be able to open up as fast or faster.
On racing his main rivals, Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, on a regular basis this year in IAAF Diamond League competition:
It’s very exciting! The last time the three of us raced was in (the World Championships final) Berlin and that was a great race. It will be really excited for the fans if they can see a race like that again, and again, and again.
On ‘tuning his mind’ to run fast times:
I do absolutely. Even before Usain Bolt ran 9.69 (at the 2008 Olympics), that was one of my goals. Now I’m training my mind to run even faster.
On running in the same era as Usain Bolt:
It’s a huge motivational factor. If it wasn’t for Usain Bolt I wouldn’t have so many fans and family and friends telling me to keep working hard. He’s helped make track and field now. I’m very thankful that he’s running the times he’s running.
He's competing in the Jamaica Invitational on Saturday in the 400m. Will he be out on the town with Usain Bolt the night before?
(Laughs) I’m actually nervous. When I ran the fast 400 a few weeks ago it was in a small collegiate meet. I’ll have a lot of professional 400 runners in the field on Saturday. So I’m just going to rest and focus on the race.
Off the track, what is his relationship like with Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell?
It’s cool. We actually have a very respectful relationship. It’s a mutual respect for each other and we’ve brought a lot to the sport together.
On his injury setbacks which affected his 2008 and 2009 season:
I think these things happen for a reason. I think these things are setting me up for a great comeback.
I’m 100 per cent right now.
I’m completely pain-free right now. Even when I ran 44 I felt no pain whatsoever.
With the best sprinters meeting regularly in the IAAF Diamond League could the 100m World record be broken this year?
Anything’s possible.
2006 was my best year when I was injury-free, and I was racing Asafa regularly, and I was running really well. So I think this year the World record could come down.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF