The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Gay says he's 'injury-free, no pain'

Sprinter Tyson Gay of the United States works out during a training session at the Beijing 2008 Olympics yesterday. - AP

BEIJING (AP)

US sprinter Tyson Gay said he is "injury-free" after completing a workout yesterday in which he showed no obvious signs of discomfort from the hamstring he hurt last month.

"I feel confident about today," Gay said as he left the track at the US Olympic training centre at Beijing Normal University. "I've been looking for an indicator to let me know where my confidence is going to be at, and I think today let me know that.

"I'm happy with today's workout: injury-free, no pain."

Gay, the defending world champion in the 100 and 200 metres, had to wait almost an hour to start his workout due to a heavy downpour of rain and lightning. He did some light jogging before completing sprints of 60, 80 and 100 metres during a workout that was open to reporters.

World-record holder

He injured his left leg while running in preliminary heats in the 200 during the US trials in July. He had already qualified for the 100, where he is expected to contend with world-record holder Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, who held the record before Bolt.

Gay pulled out of a race in London on July 25, saying he wanted to rest to ensure he was healthy for the Olympics. He had said earlier this week that he would be ready, and looked comfortable running the 100 for coach Jon Drummond.

Gay said a more detailed MRI had discovered a slightly strained tendon after the trials that was worse than originally diagnosed. He admitted having doubts about whether he would be able to get back in time for the Games. Now, he said he's "pretty close" to where he was before the injury, noting that he might have run the 100 faster had he done a second set of sprints after being fully warmed up.

Gay said his recovery had gone well. "I've gotten a lot of rest. I mean, everyone knows I haven't raced since nationals, but I think that was good for me because even if I would've ran the 200 I'd have been really fatigued," he said.

"I've seen a lot of people from the US not running as fast as they were and a lot of people's bodies are tired, so I think this rest really did me well."