OSAKA, Japan (AFP) — American Tyson Gay spoke of his pride at joining the athletics greats by winning three gold medals at a single world championships.
The sprint sensation capped a breakthrough season by adding 4x100 metres relay gold to his 100m and 200m titles, entering an elite club of triple champions.
"It means a lot. The 4x100 metres really put the icing on the cake," he said. "This was the finest medal I got because I got to get the medal with my team-mates."
Gay overcame fatigue and a baton fumble with training partner Wallace Spearmon to help the United States to victory as anchorman Leroy Dixon held off 100m world record holder Asafa Powell.
"I was feeling tired but my team-mates told me, 'Let's go out and do it one more time.' That really got my adrenalin pumping," he said.
Gay has rocketed to superstar status in Osaka, joining a pantheon of greats including Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene.
"It feels great because I look up to the other guys," said Gay.
"I didn't come to the championships thinking about three gold medals. At the same time I think that's why I got it accomplished, because I came here to have a good time."
The 25-year-old from Kentucky will ease through the rest of the season as he starts preparing for the Beijing Olympics next year.
"I'm looking forward to coming back to Asia and running some 100s," he said. "I'm not really looking forward to running the 200 -- it's so long!
"I want to get some energy back. I still have some things I want to work on and go into next year in a positive frame of mind."
Gay will be the centre of attention next August as he targets Powell's 100m record and Michael Johnson's 1996 mark over 200m, after breaking his hero's championships record with 19.76 seconds in the final.
"I beat the meet record of Michael Johnson and that is a great feeling because he is also one of my idols. I believe it is possible to beat his world record, but I have to build up more strength," he said.
But Powell, beaten into bronze in the 100m before taking silver in the relay, warned that he could not be written off.
"My championship is over right now but I'm still looking forward for better things to come," said the Jamaican.
"Right now I'm just looking forward. I'm trying to keep my head up and stay focused."
Gay's Olympic build-up has been boosted by the return of coach Lance Brauman, who left prison this week after serving a year for embezzlement and mail fraud.
Brauman, who also coaches Spearmon and Jamaica's Veronica Campbell, has delivered an astonishing seven medals -- including four golds -- despite his predicament.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
