The second-fastest man in the world is ready for a second chance in the Olympics after an injury slowed him in Beijing. Gay has dealt with injuries for years that have kept him from cementing his status as one of the all-time best sprinters, though none was more costly than the strained hamstring he sustained in the 200 meters at the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials. It kept him out of that event in Beijing, and although he continued to train for the 100m, all Gay experienced once in China was disappointment. The 100 final was billed as a potential three-way battle between Gay, Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt, but it never materialized as Gay failed to make the final. To make matters worse, Gay’s 4×100 relay team also didn’t qualify for the final with Gay, as anchor, taking responsibility for a costly dropped baton. The injuries haven’t stopped for Gay, whose biggest achievement came when he swept gold in the 100, 200 and 4×100 relay at the 2007 world championships. His latest was a nagging hip problem that led to surgery in summer 2011, but Gay was back in time to qualify in the 100 and 4×100 at the trials in June. Gay ran a 9.86 in the 100 final, just shy of first-place finisher Justin Gatlin’s 9.86, but the potential is there for him to be much better. It’s just a matter of health with Gay, whose U.S.-record 9.69 in 2009 trails only Usain Bolt’s 9.58 that year – among the fastest ever recorded. Bolt, Gatlin and Powell will be in his way again in London, when Gay takes what will likely be his final shot at Olympic glory.

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