An Update from A Star-struck Recently Hurt Superstar
by Bidz dela Cruz
Already a superstar himself, the fastest man in America, the fastest man to run under any condition, a world champion, and a possible star of the Beijing Olympics. But when he got up close Kobe Bryant at the gym during their stay in Beijing, Tyson Gay without inhibitions, showed that he was a fan of the basketball superstar.
He was star-struck as he pose with Bryant for a photo, and he even text messaged his mom about it.
Fellow Olympian Bryant asked Gay about his recently injured hamstring.
Everybody is eager to know about his condition: Kobe wants to know about it. Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt, Gay's chief competitors in the 100 meters, certainly want to know about it. And Gay himself is probably getting uneasy to see how the hamstring will react Friday when he runs the preliminary 100 meter heats. This is his first real races since going down at Olympic trials last month.
At a news conference Monday, Gay again told the press that he is 100 percent conditioned and ready, but conceded he had his doubts as he was lying on the track in Eugene, Oregon, after his hamstring seized up and sent him agonizing in pain in the 200-meter trials.
"I was in a little bit of a panic because, you know, the injury, you know, it really hurt," Gay shared. "But when I was on the ground, it kind of eased out a little bit. It could have been adrenaline or whatever."
After that incident, he immediately went under an intensive four weeks of therapy, including a stay in Germany for work with a doctor known for cutting-edge treatments.
Gay declined a race in London late last month, not because he couldn't compete, but because it meant more for him to be 100 percent coming to the Olympics than risking being 85 percent just to go to a meet to see where he's at.
This will make us all eager to find out together in one of the most highly anticipated races in Olympic history.
If all goes as expected, the 100 final on Saturday will allow three men who have broken 9.8 seconds to meet head-on. Powell owned the world record at 9.74 seconds. Bolt broke it in May at 9.72. Gay, before he got hurt at Olympic trials, ran a wind-aided 9.68; it didn't count as a world record, but his 9.77 in a qualifying heat did overset Maurice Green's nine-year-old American mark.
Humble at 25, Gay said that he can't really compare himself to Maurice Green yet. He further said that he hasn't reached that status, not even close. For one, Greene has two Olympic 100 meter medals, including gold at Sydney 2000. This is Gay's first Olympic games.
There are indications he could be closing on Greene, especially after winning world championships in the 100 and 200 last year.
It will, however, take more than great performances to become America's next track super star. Greene used to enjoy junctures leading up to races flexing his muscles, pacing and trying to intimidate the seven guys lined up with him. But Gay said, when he's in the blocks, if he's not shaking, he really is thinking about trying to react.
It's hard to imagine Greene being in awe of NBA celebrities during past opening ceremonies.
Gay even told coach Bubba Thorton that he wanted to get close to Bryant during the athlete's march into the stadium Friday night (the day before Gay's 26th birthday). He wanted to get close to Kobe so he can get on TV. Coach Thorton just said that he would be fine if he stays where he is. And indeed, he got his own air time amid the sea of U.S. athletes parading into Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium.
While Gay's modesty doesn't lend itself to sound bites, it does make him a crowd favorite. Maybe more likable than many of the recent stars in a sport tarnished by doping scandals and shady characters. It also makes for the kind of genuine moment he relished when he ran into Bryant. It's a moment Gay will always remember from the Olympic games. But he surely hopes, not the only one.
