Tyson Gay vs Usain Bolt

[Texas]

When Gay was 22, he was at the U of Arkansas and was worried about winning the NCAA''s. Needless to say Usain Bolt is way ahead of Gay at the same age. Now as Gay heads towards 30, Bolt is heading towards 25 and those prime years of athlectic prowess. Can the World Champion hang with the Olympic Champion who has the look of an unraged juggernaut? In their first 100 meter meeting in New York, Bolt made it look easy in beating Gay. I do believe a 100% healthy Tyson Gay would also have been schooled in Bejing. I do see the American winning triple silver. No way he handles Asafa Powell on that relay anchor either.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a proud American but don't go blind over it. Usain Bolt is on an totally different wrung of the ladder right now and if he stays healthy and doesn't get caught up in the sudden fame he will rule the speed world for at least another 4-6 years. Sure Gay and Powell will win some race from him on the circuit. We all have those days we don't wanna be at work. But when it comes time to go for that Championship belt, it will be all about Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay stands no chance. If Asafa Powell ever gets over his bigmeetphobia, he would also be Gay's superior.

[Marlow]

Re: Tyson Gay vs Usain Bolt

Can the World Champion hang with the Olympic Champion who has the look of an unraged juggernaut?

If I knew what that meant, I'd answer!

Getting pwned (sic) often brings out the best in champions, and I think Gay will indeed raise his game, but whether that's enough to beat Bolt is problematic. Even if Bolt has already peaked and never improves, his 'plateau' is too much for everyone else.

[Texas]

Re: Tyson Gay vs Usain Bolt

Can the World Champion hang with the Olympic Champion who has the look of an unraged juggernaut?

If I knew what that meant, I'd answer!

Getting pwned (sic) often brings out the best in champions, and I think Gay will indeed raise his game, but whether that's enough to beat Bolt is problematic. Even if Bolt has already peaked and never improves, his 'plateau' is too much for everyone else.

Please don't play that ..ok? You got it..right?

Bolt just started running the 100, I seriously doubt he's anywhere close to where he'll end up. Gay is on the other side of 25.

[Marlow]

Re: Tyson Gay vs Usain Bolt

Please don't play that ..ok? You got it..right?
Bolt just started running the 100, I seriously doubt he's anywhere close to where he'll end up. Gay is on the other side of 25.

Play what? The fact that Bolt may never improve? You've been around enough to see great talent flame out . . . many times! I sincerely hope that doesn't happen here, because he's just too much fun to watch.

[Texas]

Re: Tyson Gay vs Usain Bolt

Please don't play that ..ok? You got it..right?
Bolt just started running the 100, I seriously doubt he's anywhere close to where he'll end up. Gay is on the other side of 25.

Play what? The fact that Bolt may never improve? You've been around enough to see great talent flame out . . . many times! I sincerely hope that doesn't happen here, because he's just too much fun to watch.

Talking about my inability to spell worth a damn. :cry:

Bolt is going to continue to amaze us. I see a sub 9.65 in his future. Not sure he has a 19.29 in him however. I also see him running a sub 44.00. The next few years we are going to see some amazing performances. Think of what it will take to run with Bolt? So everyone has to elevate their game just like Richard Thompson did.

[Marlow]

Re: Tyson Gay vs Usain Bolt

I also see him running a sub 44.00.

That's my excitement. He's already shown his 100/200 prowess, I want to see what happens with the 400 if he trains for it as he did the 100/200. I'd didn't think I'd ever see MJ's record go, but now I want UB to get the 400 also.

[Dietmar239]

To me, the 100m is the heavyweight fight and he shows the most potential in that event. He made Powell's shut-down-itis look like Bob Hayes out there. I think he can do 9.5's eventually.

[rudeboy]

I believe that in a one-off race, Bolt will run below 9.60. Of course, he is going to need a 1.0 tailwind. With a better reaction time, a favorable tailwind and better competition in Tyson Gay, he should be able to achieve 9.60 or better.

In a one-off 200M race, he should be able to run below 19.20. Let's look at the facts. He ran 19.30 with a headwind of .9. As we all know, he ran 4 rounds of 100m and 3 rounds of the 200M before running 19.30. You have to extrapolate that he can go faster on fresh legs, good competition from Tyson Gay and a favorable wind.

[Marlow]

In a one-off 200M race, he should be able to run below 19.20.

The only question I have is, and you would have to ask this about anyone in Bolt's position, does the hunger that drove him to 19.30 still exist in full? He has the good life now and even if he accomplishes nothing more, he would be a 'hero-for-life' and should be financially secure. To get to 19.30, even for someone of his prodigious talent, would have required A LOT of very painful training. At what point does one say, I'm not sure I can do ALL that again?

[rudeboy]

Marlow, I understand where you are coming from and frankly, I often wonder if he is going to be as driven as last year. However, I believe Bolt thinks that Tyson and Asafa are going to come full force next year and that he will have to be at his best to beat them consistently.

Also, I feel that Usain is thinking that he has not reached is true potential and he wants to see how far he can go.

[26mi235]

I believe that in a one-off race, Bolt will run below 9.60. Of course, he is going to need a 1.0 tailwind. With a better reaction time, a favorable tailwind and better competition in Tyson Gay, he should be able to achieve 9.60 or better.

In a one-off 200M race, he should be able to run below 19.20. Let's look at the facts. He ran 19.30 with a headwind of .9. As we all know, he ran 4 rounds of 100m and 3 rounds of the 200M before running 19.30. You have to extrapolate that he can go faster on fresh legs, good competition from Tyson Gay and a favorable wind.

I agree that these are well within the realm of feasibility. Many things can derail the actual accomplishment, as we know all too well. Let us hope that he does not run in a 'Mexico City' 2.0mps environment or it will take forever to break the records at close to sea level.

[Marlow]

Marlow, I understand where you are coming from and frankly, I often wonder if he is going to be as driven as last year. However, I believe Bolt thinks that Tyson and Asafa are going to come full force next year and that he will have to be at his best to beat them consistently. Also, I feel that Usain is thinking that he has not reached is true potential and he wants to see how far he can go.

That would be awesome and what we're all hoping.

[eldrick]

I believe that in a one-off race, Bolt will run below 9.60. Of course, he is going to need a 1.0 tailwind. With a better reaction time, a favorable tailwind and better competition in Tyson Gay, he should be able to achieve 9.60 or better.

In a one-off 200M race, he should be able to run below 19.20. Let's look at the facts. He ran 19.30 with a headwind of .9. As we all know, he ran 4 rounds of 100m and 3 rounds of the 200M before running 19.30. You have to extrapolate that he can go faster on fresh legs, good competition from Tyson Gay and a favorable wind.

you smart

Usain Bolt JAM 9.69 (WR) 0.165

proper rt of 0.12 without worry of false-start v field ->

9.645

not celebrating which cost 0.03 - 0.04s ->

9.605 - 9.615

it is no rocket science about <9.6

he was almost there !

as for 200m

yup... 19.15 basic looked right when factoring in -ve wind/shitty RT & egotistical 9.96 around bend ( imo mj's 10.12/9.20 were almost perfect distribution - bolt's was a desperation attempt off blasting the curve )

the young man needed to show some restraint on the bend for a better time ( maybe 19.25 off 10.00 - 10.05 ( - 0.9 ) )

his "vulgarity" cost him...