T&FN INTERVIEW Tyson Gay by Jon Hendershott yson Gay is quiet in speech and manner— Gay: Well, I had planned to Texcept when he is on the track. Then the run both races at Nationals, even 24-year-old Kentucky native lets his running though I had some doubts in my roar. His USATF double of 9.84/19.62 only mind about the 200 because I was underscored Gay’s position as the fastest combo a little fatigued. Now I’m looking 100/200 sprinter ever. to win the sprints at Worlds, as well But the Arkansas alum knows he still has things as the 4x1. That’s the only way I’m to prove in the sport, starting with winning some looking at it. Worlds medals in Osaka, preferably golden ones. T&FN: What are your reactions to Gay speaks quietly but with strong feelings, being second-fastest all-time in the 200 whether he discusses only behind Michael Johnson’s 19.32? Gay In A Nutshell his rising place in Gay: It feels pretty good, con- the world sprinting •Personal: born Lex- sidering that I edged out Xavier scene, succeeding ington, Kentucky, Carter for the second spot by a despite having coach August 9, 1982; 6‑0/ hundredth of a second. I believe Lance Brauman in 161 (1.83/73) I was fifth all-time with my 19.68 federal prison (see from last year and now to be second •Schools: Lafayette p. 16), coping with HS (Lexington) ’01; all-time feels great. the specter of doping T&FN: Barton County ’03; Were there any signs you in the sport, or the sensed in Indy that you were running Arkansas ’05; now pride he felt winning represents adidas as fast as you did? in Indy before family Gay: I think it was the semi of the •Coach: Lance Brau- members and espe- 100 when I ran fast [9.97] even if it man (Barton County, cially his 6-year-old was into a negative wind [-1.1mps]. Arkansas, pro) daughter, Trinity: That let me know that I was really •Major Meets: 100—1) T&FN: Now strong this year and able to run well JC, 6)USATF ’02; 3) with some time for into a headwind as well as with JC ’03; 1)NC, 5sf)OT reflection, what are an aiding wind. That race told me ’04; 1)US, 3)WAF, 1) your thoughts about that I could run fast regardless of WCup ’06; 1)US ’07. each sprint win in the conditions. 200—2)JC ’03; 4)NC, Indy as well as the T&FN: Of the USATF races, which dnf)OT ’04; 3)NC, 2) overall achievement time was the bigger shock to you? And US, 4)WC ’05; 1)WAF of winning a sprint you said in Indy that if conditions ’06; 1)US ’07 double at nationals? were right, you felt you could break •World/U.S. Ranks: Gay: I feel very the World Record. Do you still feel 100—x, 9 ’04; 2, 1 ’06. good about the vic- that way? 200—x, 8 ’04; 3, 3 ’05; tories, especially Gay: Yes, I still believe that. 1, 1 ’06 in the 100 because Mainly for the fact that last year I that’s what I’ve ran 9.84 with a 1.0 wind, but this been focusing on year I did it with a negative wind. this year. I’ve really been working on my So I know I’ve gotten faster and start and I think that has carried over to my stronger and I still have confidence 200 as well. I can break the record. The 200 was the last race of the meet and I Of the times at USAs, I would was a little fatigued. So for me to pull out the say the 200 was the bigger shock. I victory there was very pleasing after all I had have been in the shadows a little, run before. And also there were 15 members but I have been training hard. I think of my family there, including my daughter. I could train harder for the 200, but So it felt very good to win in front of them. I’ve been focusing on the 100. So I T&FN: Was one of those races more personally just need my 100 speed to carry me satisfying to you and if so, why? through the race and I can be a lot Gay: The 200 was most satisfying to me. stronger than I am. I think I was a little in the shadows this year T&FN: How did you get started in in the 200 with Wallace Spearmon and Walter running in the first place? Dix. Walter had the fastest time in the world. Gay: I didn’t start running until Some people didn’t pay much attention to me. about age 14 or 15 when I got to high I just felt that I deserved a little bit of respect, school. My sister ran track before especially after what I ran in the final. I did and I just followed in her T&FN: Will you have to reassess your goals for footsteps and started to run as well. this season in light of your achievements in Indy? My mother also used to run LEUNG JR./GEEK MEDIA BILL 14 — September 2007 Track & Field News track as a young girl and she So I think it’s more about winning now loves the sport in general. She and not so much about fast times. I feel that watches meets on television, fast times will come if you continue to win. even ones I’m not running in. T&FN: Even though you were World Ranked T&FN: Did you ever intend No. 1 in the 200 last year and No. 2 at 100, do you to make a career out of the sport? think you’ve been running a little in the shadows Gay: No, that wasn’t my of Asafa Powell and Justin Gatlin? “I heard a intention whatsoever; I just Gay: I would think so. With all due respect, really enjoy running. When I Asafa is a great athlete and he does deserve all comment once started producing good times the attention because he is the World Record in high school—like breaking holder. In the 200, Xavier and Wallace both that I was quiet the state record [10.46 in ’01 as a senior]—that’s but deadly” when I wanted to go on Gay In The Post-Gatlin World to college and further T&FN: Do you feel you have some kind of my career. responsibility to be a standard-bearer for the sport T&FN: Did you have after all the bad publicity due to Justin Gatlin? an ambition, a direction in Gay: I think so. I just try to be myself and life before running? hope that people will believe that the sport will Gay: No, not really. I get better. I hope we will have meets without started running around people bringing up steroids. I’ll just focus on age 14 and I liked to myself, stay clean and try my best. play football as well. I T&FN: People are suspicious because some tried to play basketball, athletes aren’t clean. Do you worry that suspicion but I wasn’t any good. will fall on you, even though you are clean? I just didn’t have that Gay: I think it already has. I try to ignore it, type of coordination. If although it does make me more nervous now. the ball doesn’t go in, I’ve been running all my life and no one has you’ll never get picked ever accused me of being on drugs. Not when for the team. I was in college and running fast. T&FN: When did you Now that I’m a professional and running first get serious about faster, it’s worse because people have been running? When did you caught for cheating. I am more nervous because decide, “I can take this as people say things like that. far as I want?” T&FN: Is maybe one way to refocus the public’s Gay: I would say attention through the competition itself? With guys my freshman year at like Powell, Dix, Carter, Spearmon and Bolt, can the Barton County CC in very nature of the sprints refocus people’s attention Kansas. That’s where to a more positive aspect? I met Lance Brauman, Gay: I think it can. Right now, I’m running who is still my coach. fast in the 100 along with Asafa and Derrick He told me one day Atkins from the Bahamas. So there are three at practice, “Son, I think guys from three different countries who are you can make a profes- running fast. sion out of this sport. Then you have four Americans who are You’re running fast capable of running 19.6 or maybe faster in times in practice just the 200. So I think both the 100 and 200 could naturally; you don’t help put some of the drug suspicions behind even lift weights. I re- because there isn’t one guy totally dominating ally think you can have those events. On any given day, anyone can a career one day.” win or lose. I didn’t think too much about it, but I just wanted to continue to run from have been considered mainly 200 runners.