Tyson Gay

Tyson Gay, born on August 9, 1982, stands as a retired luminary in American track and field history. Distinguished for his prowess in the 100 and 200 meters, Gay etched his name in the annals of athletics. His 100 m personal best of 9.69 seconds not only secures the American record but also positions him as the second-fastest athlete over 100 m, sharing this distinction with Yohan Blake of Jamaica.

The track virtuoso boasts an illustrious career marked by numerous accolades. Among them are the three gold medals secured in the 100 m, 200 m, and 4 × 100 m relay at the 2007 Osaka World Championships. This extraordinary achievement made him only the second man to triumph in all three events at a single World Championships, following in the footsteps of Maurice Greene (later duplicated by Usain Bolt). Furthermore, Gay clinched the title of four-time U.S. champion in the 100 m.

However, the pinnacle of success is often accompanied by challenges. At the 2008 Olympic Trials, Gay blazed through the 100 m with a wind-assisted 9.68 seconds, yet fate dealt a cruel blow during the 200 m trials. A severe hamstring injury thwarted his medal aspirations at the Beijing Olympics. Nonetheless, Gay rebounded, clocking 9.71 seconds to seize the 100 m silver medal in the 2009 World Championships—marking the fastest non-winning time in the history of the event.


In a disheartening turn of events, in July 2013, Gay's legacy faced a blemish as he tested positive for a banned substance. Consequently, he withdrew from consideration for the World Championships in Moscow. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) suspended him until June 23, 2014, and stripped him of his silver medal in the 4 × 100 m relay at the 2012 Summer Olympics.


Beyond the track, Gay earned recognition with two Jesse Owens Awards, the 2007 IAAF World Athlete of the Year title, and Best Track and Field Athlete honors from Track & Field News in 2007 and the ESPY Awards in 2008 and 2011. His imprint on the sport extends to multiple Men's season's best performances in the 100 m and 200 m.


The journey of Tyson Gay extends beyond the finish line. Born on August 9, 1982, in Lexington, Kentucky, he emerged as the only son of Daisy Gay and Greg Mitchell. Athletics coursed through his veins, with his grandmother and mother both having sprinted competitively. A sibling rivalry with his older sister, Tiffany, fueled their mutual passion for racing, shaping Gay's early athletic endeavors. Under the guidance of trainer Ken Northington, he overcame initial challenges, setting high school records and claiming state championships.

Gay's transition to the collegiate level at Barton County Community College in Kansas marked a pivotal period of improvement. Bonding with Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown, Gay excelled with wind-assisted times of 10.08 s and 20.21 s in the 100 m and 200 m, respectively. Injuries in 2003 disrupted his momentum, prompting a move to the University of Arkansas with coach Lance Brauman.


The university proved a fertile ground for Gay's blossoming career. In 2004, he secured the 100 m NCAA championship and played a crucial role in Arkansas' overall success. The 2004 US Olympic Trials showcased his potential, despite a hamstring injury sidelining him from the 200 m final. Gay's ascent continued, culminating in a decision to turn professional in June 2005, eyeing a spot in the US 200 m team for the Helsinki World Championships.


Tyson Gay's journey from a spirited high school racer to a decorated professional athlete is a testament to his resilience, dedication, and indomitable spirit. His legacy, though marred by challenges, remains an integral part of the tapestry of American track and field history.

Tyson Gay, born on August 9, 1982, is an American former track and field sprinter known for his achievements in the 100 meters and 200 meters events. Here is a summary of key points from his professional career:

Debut Season:

• Gay turned professional and entered the USA Outdoor Championships.
• In his debut season, he won silver in the 200 meters with a time of 20.06 seconds.
• Gay participated in the 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki, finishing fourth in the 200 meters and facing a disqualification in the 4 × 100 meters relay.

2005 Season:

• Ended the season on a positive note by winning the gold medal in the 200 meters at the World Athletics Final.
• Gay's coach, Brauman, faced legal issues, but Gay continued to train under him even during Brauman's imprisonment.

2006 Season:

• Gay rose to the top of the rankings, becoming the 2006 US Outdoor Champion in the 100 meters after Justin Gatlin's disqualification.
• Achieved notable performances in both the 100 meters and 200 meters throughout the season.

2007 Osaka World Championships:

• Gay worked with a new coach, Jon Drummond, aiming to challenge the dominance of Asafa Powell in the 100 meters.
• Started the season with impressive times, including wind-assisted runs.
• Won the 100 meters at the World Championships, becoming the new world champion, and also secured gold in the 200 meters and 4 × 100 meters relay.

2008 Beijing Olympics:

• Prepared for the Olympics with coaches Brauman and Drummond.
• Set a US record in the 100 meters at the Olympic Trials.
• Suffered a severe hamstring injury in the 200 meters qualifiers, impacting his performance at the Olympics.
• Failed to reach the finals in the 100 meters and the 4 × 100 meters relay.

2009 World Championships:

• Set a new US record in the 100 meters at the World Championships but finished second to Usain Bolt.
• Ran the second-fastest men's 100 meters on record at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, winning in 9.69 seconds.

2010 Season:

• Achieved a new personal best in the 400 meters and became the first sprinter ever to run under 10 seconds in the 100 meters, under 20 seconds in the 200 meters, and under 45 seconds in the 400 meters.
• Broke Tommie Smith's 44-year-old world best mark over a straight 200 meters in Manchester.

2011 Injury:

• Suffered a nagging hip injury, leading to withdrawal from the 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
• Underwent acetabular labrum surgery in July, marking a year-long absence from competition.

2012 London Olympics:

• Qualified for the 100 meters at the Olympics and won the 100 meters at the Paris and London legs of the 2012 Diamond League.
• Finished fourth in the 100 meters at the Olympics, missing a bronze medal by one-hundredth of a second.
• Won a silver medal in the 4 × 100 meters relay, setting an American record.

2013 Failed Drug Test:

• Tested positive for a banned substance in May 2013 and admitted to doping.
• Suspended until June 23, 2014, with all results from July 15, 2012, being stricken.

2015:

• Returned from suspension to win the 100 meters at the Prefontaine Classic.
• USA Relays qualified for World and Olympic games at World Relays in the Bahamas, winning the 4 × 100 meters relay.

2016:

• Ran the third leg for the USA relay 4 × 100 meters team at the Rio Olympics, finishing third but later disqualified.
• Made a bid to join the U.S. bobsleigh team but withdrew from the competition.

Personal Life:

• Gay lives in Clermont, Florida.
• Has a daughter named Trinity with Shoshana Boyd.
• Trinity Gay was fatally shot in 2016 during a shootout, leading to a tragic incident in the athlete's personal life.
• Gay is known for his religious beliefs, modesty, and respectfulness in the athletic community.

Achievements:

• Holds the US record in the 100 meters with 9.69 seconds.
• Achieved notable rankings in the 200 meters, making him the ninth fastest in history.
• Member of the fifth-fastest 4 × 100 meters relay team in history.
• Achieved a unique feat of running under 10 seconds in the 100 meters, under 20 seconds in the 200 meters, and under 45 seconds in the 400 meters during the 2010 season.

The Day That Changed Track & Field Forever... || Tyson Gay Shocks The World

References;

• "Tyson Gay". teamusa.org. USOC. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
• Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Tyson Gay". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on August 25, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
• Patrick, Dick (June 29, 2008). "Gay wins trials 100 with wind-aided 9.68". USA Today. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
• 0 Toplists 100 m – o. iaaf.org. Retrieved on 2011-05-30.
• Connelly, Tom (August 2, 2008). "Athlete Bio: Tyson Gay". The New York Times. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
• Notable Kentucky African Americans Database Archived October 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. University of Kentucky Libraries (January 26, 2009). Retrieved on 2009-01-26.
• Soft-spoken shell broken Archived September 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. NBC (July 30, 2008). Retrieved on 2009-01-26.
• Cyphers, Luke. Ladies Man. ESPN. Retrieved on 2009-01-26.
• Tyson's Biography Archived April 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Tyson Gay official website. Retrieved on 2009-02-03.
• Patrick, Dick (August 23, 2007). Gay puts best foot forward in bid for medal at worlds. USA Today. Retrieved on 2009-01-27.
• Maloney, Mark (March 4, 2007). Catch him if you can Archived November 28, 2009, at WebCite. Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved on 2009-01-28. Archived copy at WebCite (November 28, 2009).
• National/Kentucky overall state records. Kentucky High School Athletics Association. Retrieved on 2009-01-28.
• KHSAA Class AAA Track and Field. Kentucky High School Athletics Association (June 2, 2001). Retrieved on 2009-01-28