TYSON GAY TRIUMPHS AT 200m FOR SECOND GOLD MEDAL
OSAKA, Japan — Two years ago, Tyson Gay came in fourth in these World Championships, one lonely and disappointed spot out of the medals. He knew he should have done better, and calls it the defining moment of motivation in his career. Tonight, Gay replaced heartache with history, rewriting the record books when he won the 200-meter dash at the 11th IAAF World Championships. With the victory, he added another gold medal to the one from his 100-meter victory on Sunday.
His winning time of 19.76 seconds eclipsed the meet record of 19.79 set by Michael Johnson in 1995.
"It was a lot of stress, but coming out with a victory feels great," he said afterward. "It meant a lot in my heart, but my legs are extremely tired. I couldn't even put up my arms to celebrate. I couldn't really even jog on my victory lap."
"It was the toughest race of my life."
The final was Gay's eighth race in six days, with four rounds in both the 100 and 200 meters leaving him physically drained and nursing a sore hamstring. Gay is expected to go after his third medal of the championships in the 4x100-meter final on Saturday night.
Gay is the third sprinter to win the 100-200 double at the World Championships, after Americans Maurice Greene in 1999 and Justin Gatlin in 2005. Only Greene has won the 100, 200 and the 4x100 victory, in 1999.
Although silver medalist Usain Bolt of Jamaica's 19.91 clocked in well behind Gay, the victory was not an easy one. Known as a brilliant curve artist, Gay was surprised to find himself slightly behind Bolt, running in the lane to his right, as they exited. "The tables had turned," Gay said. "He gave me a run for my money. I was waiting for him to crack." It wasn't until the last 10 meters that Gay, summoning a reserve even he wasn't sure he had, pulled away convincingly.
With the win, Gay remains unbeaten this season at both 100 and 200 meters.
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