|
Pressure heightens for Gay
16/05/2008 09:03 - (SA)
Carson - Double world sprint champion Tyson Gay is already feeling the pressure of expectation in his build-up to the Olympics Games in August.
Although the softly-spoken American ruled the roost at last
year's world championships by winning both the 100m and
the 200m, he is wary of entering uncharted territory in Beijing.
"I am real nervous about this year," Gay, 25, told
reporters at the Home Depot Centre on Thursday in the build-up
to Sunday's Adidas Track Classic.
"I have never been to the Olympics before so I don't really know what to expect.
"People tell me: 'Hey, in the world champs, you can look to the right of you and see some empty stands, look to the left and see a few empty stands.
"But when the Olympics come, I was told in the morning
rounds you are going to see thousands of people in the stands
and in the evening rounds, you are going to see stands
completely full.
"So I just have to stay focused and try to worry about
myself," added Gay, who has set his sights on becoming the
first man to win Olympic gold over 100m and 200m since compatriot
Carl Lewis in 1984.
World-record holder
"I really believe, if I get sidetracked, anybody can knock me out. In the 100m dash, you never know the outcome
because it is the Olympics and a lot of people will step up to
the plate."
Gay defeated Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas and world-record
holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica in the 100m and Usain Bolt, also
of Jamaica, in the 200 at last year's world championships in
Osaka, Japan.
While unaware that Lewis was the last man to complete an
Olympic sprint double, Gay said he was more concerned with a
statistic relating to the world championships.
"Most of the world champion sprinters have gone on to win
the Olympics the next year, so that is also a lot of pressure
(on me)," the American added with a smile.
"A friend of mine who loves the sport brought that to my
attention in a letter. He made a list of all the sprinters who
have done it and there was only one who didn't and I think it
was Kim Collins.
"When my friend did that, it put a lot of pressure on me
and then he puts my name at the end of the list with a question
mark."
Gay ran his first 200m of the year 12 days ago in Jamaica,
claiming victory in a season-leading 20.00 seconds. He is
scheduled to compete in both the 100m and 200m on Sunday.
"I am not really expecting anything spectacular," he said. "If something does happen, I will be pleased but I am really looking forward to just running.
"I am trying to work on some things and it's going to be very important for me to be healthy in June," he added,
referring to the US national trials in Eugene, Oregon. "That's my main focus."
|
Rugby
