Beijing Olympic – Gay’s fall crushes dream of double-gold
Gay falls on the track with a cramped hamstring.
(BEIJING, July 6) — Just as things were looking better and better for sprinter Tyson Gay, an injury dropped him on his back.
According to sports.cn, while competing in a quarterfinal heat of the 200m in the 2008 US Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday, Gay’s left hamstring cramped up, causing him to stumble and fall on the track.
Just last week, here at the Trials, Gay set a new world record in the 100m, clocking in at 9.68 seconds, surpassing the time set by Jamaican Usain Bolt by .04 seconds. Although this is contested, as Gay was assisted by winds of 4.1 meters per second (only times set with helping winds of 2.0 meters per second or less can be considered record setting times), Gay has still established himself as one of the world’s fastest people. He, and the American nation, had high hopes for another amazing run in the 200m.
When the gun went off for the start of the 200m, Tyson seemingly flew off the blocks with no problems. But almost just as quickly as he started out, he faltered, grabbing his left leg with a look of agony as he went down. Because only the top three competitors in each running event will represent the US at the Beijing Games, Tyson now has no chance of standing atop the medal podium for the 200m in August.
Gay’s fall shocked athletics fans all around the world. Rivals were surprised too, as Gay is a formidable opponent and would have been a good challenger for Olympic gold in the 200m.
Luckily, his 100m qualification will not be affected by today’s drop out. Gay will still be attending the Games, but with no hopes of bagging two golds.
(Source: en.beijing2008.cn)