OLYMPIC SPOTLIGHT: Tyson Gay

As he crossed the line with the lead in the 100-meter final at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore, Tyson Gay looked up and saw a time of 9.68 seconds light up the scoreboards around Hayward Field. The time was the fastest ever, but a 9.1 mph tailwind nullified the performance’s chances of shattering the world record (9.72).

Gay, a household name among sporting enthusiast around the globe, will compete in the 100 meters and as a member of the U.S. 4×100-meter relay at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

During his two-year career at Arkansas, Gay was a two-time NCAA Champion and seven-time All-American. He also managed to collect five SEC titles and was named All-SEC six times.

His post-collegiate career kicked off late in 2005, as he finished fourth as a part of an American 1-2-3-4 sweet in the 200 meters at the 2005 World Championships.

Gay continued to improve throughout the 2006 season, running times of 9.84 at 100 meters and 19.68 at 200 meters. By the end of 2006, Gay was ranked second in the world at both 100 and 200 meters by the IAAF and was fourth all-time in both events.

In 2007, Gay swept the two sprint events at the USA Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. One month later at the IAAF World Championships in Osaska, Japan, Gay defeated world record-holder Asafa Powell at 100 meters to become the new world champion. Four days later he ran a championship record19.76 at 200 meters to win that event as well.

He was named IAAF Male Athlete of the year for 2007 and was USOC Sportsman of the Year.

Gay is set to compete in the preliminary rounds of the 100 meters in Beijing Friday, Aug 15 and the 4×100-meter relay Thursday, Aug. 21. For complete results and details of the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing, visit http://www.iaaf.org/OLY08/index.html. For more information on the Razorbacks in Beijing, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Career Highlights: A two-time NCAA Champion (2004 outdoor 100 meters, 2005 4×100-meter relay); seven-time All-American; five-time SEC champion and six-time All-SEC performer.