Gay’s Olympic plans dented by injury

EUGENE, Oregon, CMC – World champion Tyson Gay’s hopes of an Olympic double in Beijing this summer were plunged into jeopardy on Saturday when he hobbled out of the quarter-finals of the 200 metres at the US Olympic trials with severe cramp in his hamstring.

He had run about 40 metres before he suddenly pulled up clutching at his left hamstring and collapsed on the track. He had to be taken by cart from the track.

“Before I went out on the track I felt a little tightness in my hamstring so I had kind of a bad feeling,” a statement from Gay said.

“When I came off the curve the first two steps were fine, and then I felt it, sort of a pull, about 40 meters in. Once I was on the ground it didn’t hurt as much as when it happened. I’ll just get it worked on for a few days.”

US Olympic qualifying rules say that only the top three finishers in the event can make the team, with no exceptions allowed.

It effectively dismisses Gay’s chances of doing the double and will be a huge disappointment especially since he was one of the leading contenders to win the event.

More importantly, he is also one of the heavy favourites, along with the Jamaican duo of Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt, to capture the 100 metres marquee event and could face a race against time to be fit.

There is optimism that he will be fit to pursue his 100-metre bid in Beijing. His manager told reporters Saturday that Gay suffered a severe cramp in the left hamstring, which should not impede his training for the Olympic 100.

The injury could put in doubt Gay’s appearance at the Aviva London Grand Prix in Crystal Palace on July 25 where he is expected to clash with Powell in a precursor to the Olympic meeting.

Only last Sunday, Gay clocked the fastest 100 metres ever run under any conditions when he clocked a wind-assisted 9.68 seconds. It was not ratified as a world record because of the illegal wind speed.