Athletes

Tyson Gay wasn’t exactly the fastest kid in the world when he was younger. Indeed, it wasn’t until he turned 14 that he was able to beat Tiffany, his older sister.

Likewise, his journey to the top of sprinting has been long and steady. He’s chipped away at it. He’s been spurred on by the near misses that dotted his early career. And now, it seems, he can beat anyone – especially when a gold medal is at stake.

In 2004 he won the US collegiate 100m title in 10.06. In 2005 he finished second in the 200m at the US Championships and so booked his ticket to the World Championships. There he finished fourth and, to add insult to injury, could only watch as the US sprint relay squad botched their first baton change in the final.

But, as he’s always done, Tyson turned frustration into motivation.

In 2006 he dipped under 10 seconds for the first time and promptly produced a string of sub-10-second runs. He also went under 20 seconds for the 200m on four occasions, including a victory in 19.68 at the IAAF World Athletics Final.

He started 2007 in even better form. Into a headwind at the US Championships, he equalled his 100m PB – 9.84 – and ran the second-fastest 200m of all time: 19.62.

With confidence oozing from every pore, he upstaged his great – and clearly nervous – rival Asafa Powell at the World Championships by taking gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics were disappointing for Tyson who saw his summer blighted with an injury picked up at the US trials. He managed to make it to the Olympic semi-finals before failing to make the grade for what was one of the most memorable moments of the whole event in Beijing.

Life’s never going to be easy when you have talents likes Powell and Usain Bolt, the new 100m world record-holder, lining up next you, but Gay is the consummate championship performer and there's no doubt he will be back.

Interview

There is no interview for Tyson Gay at the moment. We hope to catch up with him soon.