USA: ATHLETICS - World's second fastest man, Tyson Gay, says Jamaicans will still pose the greatest challenge at this weekend's Adidas Grandprix despite the absence of Usain Bolt

Record ID: 277346

  • Title: USA: ATHLETICS - World's second fastest man, Tyson Gay, says Jamaicans will still pose the greatest challenge at this weekend's Adidas Grandprix despite the absence of Usain Bolt
  • Date: 9th June 2011
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JUNE 8, 2011) (REUTERS) **FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY THROUGHOUT** AMERICAN SPRINTER TYSON GAY ARRIVING AT OMEGA STORE IN NEW YORK PHOTOGRAPHERS GAY IN FRONT OF FANS (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN SPRINTER TYSON GAY SAYING "They have that rivalry, that whole Jamaica versus U.S. rivalry. The fans are great. I mean I hear so many people cheering
  • Embargoed: 24th June 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA519XBG3ELJIM793EWYQB38OW8
  • Story Text: American sprinter Tyson Gay arrived in New York on Wednesday (June 8) ready to challenge the clock and the Jamaicans ahead of the Adidas Grandprix on Randall's Island.
    The world's second fastest man considers that even without 2008 Olympic and 2009 World Champion Usain Bolt in town, the island sprinters will be the favorites in the 100 meters and their fans will provide one of the best atmospheres on the Diamond League circuit on Saturday (June 11).
    "They have that rivalry, that whole Jamaica versus U.S. rivalry. The fans are great. I mean I hear so many people cheering for me, cheering for the Jamaican athletes and I think that's what some of those other meets don't have. Besides it's a great meet," explained Gay, who is appearing in only his second meet of the season.
    "I've had so much success here: my PR [personal record] in the 200m here, the first time I ran or the second time I ran was wind-aided and I almost broke the record here. So I've had some great times."
    With Bolt competing in another Diamond League event in Norway, the mantle falls to sprinters Steve Mullings and Nesta Carter. Both of whom are training partners with Gay.
    "I may have to warm up by myself this time, because we're used to warming up together in practice, but you know, we all study each other, and we all study film, or we know some of each others weaknesses and strengths," said Gay about his fellow runners.
    "So I may have to warm up on my side (alone), because I can't show everything. Like a chef, you can't give up all of your ingredients. But we're all teammates, we're all going out there to have fun, so at the end of the day it's going to be business, but I want to have fun as well."
    The 28-year old Gay beat Bolt over 100 metres in their only head to head clash in 2010, but said so far this year he was only at 70 percent and that would not compete in the 200m this year to ease the strain on his body. That leaves racing fans with the hope that the pair could at least face each other again in the 100m this year, either in the Diamond League or at the World Championships in South Korea.
    If the American record-holder looks for another line of work after his sprinting career, it won't be as a horologist. Gay visited the storefront of his sponsor, Omega, and had the chance to work on a watch, the motion of which turned out to be more technical than his strides at the track.
    "The 100m is very technical, but there's two things I can't forget, you know, that's pumping my arms and that's moving my legs, but with the watch it was difficult, because the pieces were so small," explained Gay.
    "I mean you have to use tweezers and small screwdrivers I'd never seen before, so it was kind of. . . and one time, when I was using the screwdriver trying to grab a screw, it just popped right out.
    The Adidas Grandprix takes place on Saturday (June 11), with the 100m race as the showcase event in the afternoon.
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