Tyson Gay pumped up to take Usain Bolt’s record

13 April 2012

There was just one item on Tyson Gay's birthday wish list — to beat Usain Bolt over 100metres in Stockholm at the weekend. The American, who marked his 28th birthday on Monday with a quiet night in London, got that wish granted by beating the world record holder for the first time.

The second fastest man of all time, who downplays himself as "a just country boy from Kentucky", will resume battle over 100m tomorrow at the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace.

But this time not against Bolt, who will miss the rest of the season with a back injury but against another Jamaican Asafa Powell, who had to sit out the race in Sweden because of a groin complaint. And Gay believes Bolt's world record of 9.58 seconds will be broken this month with the 100m also being contested at the Diamond League finale in Brussels in a fortnight.

He said: "I'm confident myself and Asafa will run PRs [personal records] at the next meets and I really do believe that I can be the next man to break the world record. I just have to stay healthy and keep running."

According to Gay, the record is unlikely to tumble at this Diamond League meeting although he points out it has nothing to do with Bolt's absence. "It's not that it's not a quick track — some people have said that but that's negative and wrong," he said. "It's just there's normally a strong headwind here. Whatever the case, I just want to run as fast as I can and, if the record comes, I'll take it."

Gay's past performances suggest that he relishes running in Britain. This year he broke the straight-line 200m record in Manchester and also pipped Powell to the line in the 100m at Gateshead.

With the Olympics less than two years away, Gay wants "to get used to that winning feeling in the capital".

"I love running in London and the fans are just great," he said. "Sometimes the weather you have over here isn't so great but, all respect to the fans, they still come out whatever the weather. And obviously I want to get a feeling for running in London before 2012."

Gay will be among the favourites for a medal at the Games in 2012, when he will be desperate to make amends for Beijing two years ago.

An injury badly affected his pre-Olympic chances and, although he recovered in time to race in China, he failed to even make the 100m final. He said: "I remember watching Usain win gold — it was hard. At the same time, though, I realised it wasn't my time. I now just have to believe my time will come in London in 2012.

"I think the whole Beijing experience made me strong but now I don't even look back at it that much. But it was hard as I felt there were medals for me there and there are potential memories there that I never got to experience."

Such was Bolt's pace at Beijing's Bird's Nest that Gay would have had a monumental task to have outsprinted the record holder even had he been fit and reached the final. And he credited his arch rival for pushing him further and faster in the sport.

"He brings the best out of me," he said. "If it wasn't for him I don't think I'd ever have run 9.6 seconds or else dreamed of going for 9.5. I'm just glad he's been there to make me stronger, both physically and mentally."

To get tickets for the Aviva London Grand Prix and for more information, telephone 08000 556056 or go to www.uka.org.uk

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