Tyson Gay in sprint pantheon with worlds treble

By Andrew James Sep 1, 2007, 17:12 GMT

The USA 4x100m relay celebrate after winning gold at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Osaka, Japan, 01 September 2007. From left Darvis Patton, Tyson Gay, Wallace Spearmon and LeeRoy Dixon. EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT

Osaka, Japan - Tyson Gay entered the sprint pantheon as the latest United States superstar, transforming himself from a challenger to the man to beat with an impressive world title hat-trick.

Gay, 25, is already favourite at the Beijing Olympics next year after winning the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay title in Osaka, the relay title rounding off his success nicely on Saturday night.

'It feels really good. I was not really thinking about three golds but I wanted to have fun. That is the reason for my success. I had the most fun tonight,' he said.

The only other sprint triple winner was Maurice Greene in 1999. Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson also got three golds at one worlds, Lewis in the 100m, long jump and 4x100m 1983 and 1987, Johnson in the 200, 400 and 4x400m in 1995.

Gay did not even anchor the team Saturday, but ran a fast curve in the third leg to get the gold in 37.78 seconds with Darvis Patten, 200m silver medallist Wallace Spearmon and anchor Leroy Dixon.

Jamaica with 100m world record holder and anchor Asafa Powell took the silver in 37.89 and Britain came third in 37.90 seconds.

'I am looking for better things to come,' said Powell, who astonishingly admitted to nerves in the 100m final where he was beaten comprehensively by Gay and only got bronze.

Another Jamaican, the beaten 200m runner Usain Bolt, also vowed revenge in Beijing: 'Next year it won't be that easy (for Gay). It gives me a lot of motivation to work even harder for next season to be able to beat him.'

Gay won in 9.85 seconds Sunday and added a 200m gold in a championship record 19.76 seconds Thursday for the fastest double in worlds history.

Now come a few meets where could possibly meet the world record holder Powell (9.77 seconds) again, and then the Olympics next year. The last man to get the treble there was Lewis, who actually made it four golds with the long jump win as well.

'I will be even more prepared in 2008 and will work harder,' Gay vowed.

According to Lamine Diack, supremo of the world governing body IAAF, Gay is more than a fast sprinter at a time when the Olympic champion Justin Gatlin is suspended for doping and positive heroes are in high demand.

'Tyson is a great champion. His behaviour after his wins show that he can be a role model in our sport. He can be one of the stars at the Beijing Olympics,' Diack said Friday.