Finally cleared for some light jogging on his surgically repaired hip, American record holder Tyson Gay took off at what he thought was a casual pace.
Instantly, he was told to take it easy and not to push so hard.
Old habits are simply hard to break.
It’s not in the nature of Gay, one of the fastest men on the planet, to do anything slow, especially when his hip is feeling better than ever just three months after surgery.
A quick healer, Gay’s already turning his attention toward the London Olympics and trying to close the gap on record holder Usain Bolt—a predicament he shares with every other sprinter in the world.
Gay’s goal is to begin training at full speed by December and possibly start competing in February. He still plans to run both the 100 and 200 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, hoping to set up a showdown in London with Bolt, the Jamaican sensation.
And this time, Gay vows to be closer to full strength.
Between a hurting hamstring and an aching hip, Gay estimates he’s been sprinting at about only 85 percent over the past few seasons.
“Fixing this issue is going to make me a better athlete,” Gay told The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday.
Still, he realizes he’s a long way from being at Bolt’s level again—if he can even get back there at all.
That skeptics doubt him has provided motivation. He knows there are those writing him off, believing that a 29-year-old Gay coming off hip surgery is no match for Bolt.
And that Bolt’s countryman, Yohan Blake, is a bigger threat to Bolt than Gay.
“I love it,” Gay said of being the underdog. “It’s going to keep me working hard. Look at last year: I was running basically on one leg and still running extremely fast times. I think once I’m 100 percent healthy, I shouldn’t have any issues.”
Gay could’ve limped through last summer, picked a select few races to test the hip and endured the searing pain after the competition. But with London quickly approaching, the former world champion elected to shut it down.
A former star at the University of Arkansas, Gay pulled out of the 100 at U.S. nationals in June because of the ailing hip. Soon after, he underwent surgery.
At the world championships in Daegu, South Korea, in August, Gay was hobbling around the venue while Bolt was flying around the track.
It was a stark contrast, especially since the last time these two sprint Goliaths competed in the 100 at the ’09 worlds, Bolt finished in an all-time best mark of 9.58 seconds. Gay wound up a distant second at 9.71, which was an American record (he lowered it again to 9.69 seconds later that season).
Although reduced to watching Bolt from the sideline, Gay didn’t witness his top rival win the 100 in South Korea.
No, Bolt was knocked out of the final after he jumped the gun and was disqualified under a highly debated zero-tolerance false start rule enacted last year.
It’s a rule that Gay doesn’t fully support.
“We work too hard for four years,” said Gay, who’s serving as an ambassador for the new EAS 100 percent Certified program, through which all EAS sports nutrition products are marked with a “tested and true” seal so athletes know they’re safe and clean. “A lot of things can happen in that type of environment, so I believe someone needs a second chance.”
Bolt later atoned for the mistake by winning the 200—in convincing fashion. He’s clearly the face of track, and clearly deserves to be, in Gay’s opinion.
“What he’s done is a little bit more phenomenal than what people have done in the past,” Gay said. “That’s what separates him from everyone else.”
Gay’s hiatus from track has been difficult. His life revolved around a structured workout routine.
These days, it’s all about rehab and steadily getting back his strength. He’s just started to lift again. Nothing heavy with his hip on the mend, just about 150 pounds on a squat machine.
“It’s coming along,” Gay said. “I’m taking it slow and training smart.”
In his spare time, Gay has been pondering his post-racing life. He hopes to compete in the 2016 Rio Games and then start pursuing other avenues of interest.
He’s contemplating getting into coaching, feeling he can offer some insight, especially to elite athletes from other sports. He gave New England receiver Chad Ochocinco some advice via Twitter and, after watching the baseball playoffs, thinks he can give some tips to base stealers.
“I wouldn’t mind helping in that sense,” Gay said.
He’s also looking at possible business partnerships, like his involvement with EAS. That’s been a natural fit for Gay, who’s been a participant in the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s “Project Believe” campaign.
“It’s an Olympic year; you don’t want a stupid stimulant stopping you from being on the Olympic team,” he said. “A lot of people believe there are short cuts in this sport. But there aren’t any. Not for me.
“It’s all about hard work and heart and really trying overcome moments in life that try to bring you down.”
Like injuries.
If Gay were in charge of his timeline, he would compete in an indoor meet in February, just to knock some of the rust off heading into the outdoor season. More than likely, he could open in April.
“I know the doctors want me to be patient,” Gay said. “But I can’t wait to get back into the routine of things.”
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AP Sports Writer Pat Graham can be reached at
