So much respect for Tyson Gay

I agree 110%. So many times (especially the sprinters) come up w/ all kinds of excuses, stubbed toe, everything under the sun.

He was one of the few athletes that laid it out there, said he was 100% and didn't come through.

Others should take a page out of his book.

I agree, that was classy. I doubt he was at 100%, but hey, he couldn't have handled the situation any better.

Same here, classy guy. I hope some of the young guys can take notice of how he handled that. Humble in victory, humble in defeat.

He was on the verge of tears during the interview and stayed classy even at breaking point. I wanted to punch the reporter in the face for continuing the questions.

That was some tough questioning, but the reporters have a job to do too, and you know we all wanted the answers to those questions.

I still can't believe how well he's handled the injury and everything.

I agreed and like everyone's comments on Tyson Gay. It was very moving to see him express himself, with no excuses. You could see that he was hurting and I felt the same for him, but he is an exceptional individual and gentleman.

Driver wrote:

I agree 110%. So many times (especially the sprinters) come up w/ all kinds of excuses, stubbed toe, everything under the sun.

He was one of the few athletes that laid it out there, said he was 100% and didn't come through.

Others should take a page out of his book.

If only he could have been 110% like you, instead of only 100%.

Agreed. In an event that has so often been dominated by preening trash-talkers, he showed tremendous class.

Beyond the class act he was during that interview (and clearly on the verge of tears), I think he was a class act after the injury at Trials. The initial report was it was a cramp. Athletes so often play down their injuries so they don't appear weak to their competitors. He could have just gone along with "cramp," but instead he was honest and said it was a strain, which is far worse.

Props to Tyson on being a class act. Props to Walter Dix for pulling through for the bronze for the US.

Dr.S wrote:

Beyond the class act he was during that interview (and clearly on the verge of tears), I think he was a class act after the injury at Trials. The initial report was it was a cramp. Athletes so often play down their injuries so they don't appear weak to their competitors. He could have just gone along with "cramp," but instead he was honest and said it was a strain, which is far worse.

I disagree with this argument. Sprinters often play up their injuries in order to relieve pressure on themselves. That way if they lose, they can blame it on the injuries, and if they win, they can emphasize how they overcame a serious injury to win. Gay was just honest, that's all.

I do agree that he was a class act in his interview. Has anyone else noticed that the interviewers from NBC just don't seem to realize that the seconds after the race are probably the most emotional? All of the interviewers, regardless of who they are performing, seem to go several questions too far. The questions they often ask are insensitive or redundant. What douchebags.

The man is a straight-up role model. He has slowly earned the gold medal of my heart through the multitude of incredible performances and acts of humility he's displayed. I would hate to believe, or even be slightly suspicious, that an injury robbed me of something that I've been working at for my entire life. IMO, the man deserves something more than disapointment at these games.

Tyson, you're my boy.

I absolutely hate the interviews right after a race. I think it's really not needed. Let the athlete have his moment. Don't ruin it by asking stupid questions. Save the interview for the press conference or later on when the athlete has calmed down and can give you good answers.

BwanaKuu wrote:

Save the interview for the press conference or later on when the athlete has calmed down and can give you good answers.

Who wants good answers? The only good reason to ask post-race questions is to get nutty answers, like Gabe's answer about seeing fear in El G's eyes, or Suzy's answer about saving herself for Zurich.

Gay is truly one of the only athletes I actually feel for through their performances. He just seems like a great guy and I'm very sorry that he didn't win gold. I wish him the best for the 4x100.