Gay - a portrait - 200m heats (© Getty Images)
World 100m and 200m champion Tyson Gay will make his second career outing in Zürich in his first race after his illustrious performances last week in Osaka, Japan at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, which also saw him take gold as a member of the USA's 4x100m relay squad.
Gay spoke to the media today in Zürich, ahead of Friday’s Weltklasse Zürich, IAAF Golden League meeting (7 Sep):
“I did not practice on the new (Zürich) track yet, but I heard it is dead fast. Anything under ten seconds will satisfy me when I take into account how I feel after my tough programme at the World Championships. I still feel a little sore, and slightly tired. I need concentrate a lot also mentally after fulfilling my goals in Osaka.”
“It is also my first Golden League of the year. That is because of my planning as the previous meets did not fit well into my schedule. I have excellent memories at Zurich, I ran here last year my best in a World record race, I’m very thankful for that. I’m not sure about my next races after Zurich, there are maybe two or three still to come. I may even run a 200m.
“Everybody is asking about the World record. It will come when it should come. I know I can do it, but I cannot tell when it will happen. Specifically the 200m record is one of the best records in our sport, but I think it possible to break it, you just need to have the right conditions, weather and wind. Even having Asafa (Powell) in such a 200m would be a help along with Wallace (Spearmon) or Xavier (Carter).”
“For me gold medals are more important than records. In my heart the special event remains the 200m. In will continue to try to break also the record at 100m, but here the wind plays a big role taking into account that I’m not a huge sprinter.”
“The gold medals from Osaka are meaning a lot, as I’m now part of the group of privileged sprinters who did the same as Maurice Greene or Carl Lewis.”
“My best races so far technically? I think the 100m final in Osaka and 200m in Lausanne.”
“I still want to be good in both sprints, that is something what separates the good and great sprinters.”
“My popularity in America after Osaka? I really do not know, I must return, then I will tell you. I think in my home town it will be special. But otherwise I’m not sure. Friends are telling me there is a lot about me in newspapers, some text messages are coming. In our country the people do not understand well what it means to win the World Championships, they know only Olympic Games. I will get more from the feeling that I am World champion when I meet my family, my coach, close friends.”
"For the future I need to work on my start, but also will include some 400 m races to get more strength. I tried one this indoor season, it felt easy, but I expected a time under 47 seconds. Next year although there is World Indoor Championships (Valencia) I will not focus on indoor because this season is long and I need to have enough time to prepare for Olympics. My coach is moving to Orlando, Florida, so me, Veronica Campbell and the group will go with him."
LOC - Weltklasse Zürich