American record holder Tyson Gay is determined to get around the only obstacle that prevents him from being mentioned in the same breath as some of that country's most illustrious sprinters - the likes of Carl Lewis and Jessie Owens - and that is World and Olympic champion Usain Bolt.

Gay seemed well on his way to being world sprinting king of a new generation after claiming the sprint double at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, carrying on the country's rich tradition in the sprints. In the Japanese city, Gay had secured an impressive win over an emerging Bolt in the 200m, but things would change soon after that.

At the Olympics the following year, it was the Jamaican who would claim the double in impressive fashion, and then also at the World Championships in Berlin the following year, on both occasion setting stunning world-record times.

Despite setting a remarkable time of 9.71 in the World Championships final in Berlin, Germany, in 2009, it was only good enough for a silver medal as Bolt clocked 9.58, bettering his own world record of 9.69.

"Being an American, I just believe that we have so much history, from Jesse Owens to Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene and I would like to walk in their footsteps," Gay told USA today (usatoday.com). "Right now I can't, with Usain Bolt having the world records and a lot of gold medals."

looking unhappy

It was an unhappy looking Gay who stood next to Bolt and his bronze-medallist compatriot Asafa Powell on the podium, and the sprinter told the American publication that there will be little to smile about until he has regained the top spot and achieved his full potential.

"I believe when you're hungry, you don't crack a smile," Gay said. "I'm still trying to eat; I'm still trying to work hard. You'll see the biggest smile ever when I know I've reached my full potential."

Gay did achieve somewhat of a breakthrough last season, scoring his first victory over Bolt over 100 metres at the Diamond League meet in Stockholm. However, he is quick to point out that he does not believe the matchup between the two can be called a rivalry just yet, with Bolt getting the majority of the wins.

"That (win) was definitely good for me, but at the same time, I think to make a rivalry, it has to be a little bit more back and forth."

However, while Bolt has started the season slowly, clocking 9.91 in both 100m races he has taken part in this season, Gay has seemingly flown out the gates, clocking an unofficial time of 9.79 on Sunday.