Tyson Gay joked that his agent tricked him, promising a “low-key” race for his long-awaited return to competition, not the throng of TV cameras that greeted him at the Adidas Grand Prix on Saturday.
But the former world champion knew he needed the pressure of a big stage before he goes to the U.S. Olympic trials at the end of the month.
The 29-year-old Gay hadn’t raced since hip surgery last July. He entered the “B” 100 Saturday, more than two hours before reigning world champion Yohan Blake was scheduled to compete. Gay finished in 10.0 seconds running into a headwind, but success was measured in sprinting without pain and getting “all the jitters out.”
Gay would have preferred entering a less high-profile event than a Diamond League meet in New York City. But coach Jon Drummond told him it was “better to it get out of the way than to go to trials and be really anxious and nervous.”
Gay may run in a small meet in Texas before trials.
The American-record holder in the 100 won three gold medals at the 2007 world championships. But since then, he’s been overtaken by Usain Bolt and beset by injuries.
The hip still bothers him, though he said Drummond hammers him about so many technical details, that distracts him from feeling the discomfort.
“It aches and pinches and grabs,” Gay said. “But I’ve just got to go out there and run through the pain.”
“Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius failed to post an Olympic qualifying time of 45.30 seconds in the 400, finishing in 46.14. The double-amputee from South Africa will likely have two more chances before the end of the month to meet the standard to earn a trip to the London Games.
Source: ABC News
