The Top 5 Sprinters Ever – Can Gatlin upset the All-time Rankings in Beijing World Championships?
Gay is tied with Yohan Blake on the No.2 spot as the second fastest man in history, but recorded the 9.69s mark earlier than the Jamaican, achieving the feat in Shanghai in 2009. His mark is also the American record in the event.
Two years before, he secured the 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles in Osaka, making him the second man to win all three events at the same World Championships, after Maurice Greene.
Gay is a 4-time US champion but is yet to win an individual Olympic medal. He withdrew from the 2013 World Championships after testing positive for a banned substance. He and the entire US 4x100m relay team were also stripped of their Silver medal won in London 2012.
He will therefore be gunning for a consolation medal next month and will attempt to upstage Powell, since it would take a miracle to stop Gatlin. It would also take a lot to see the 32-year old compete at high level next year at the Rio Olympics, and so has to make the most of the opportunity he’s being presented with in Beijing.
He is currently No.6 on the 2015 standings behind Gatlin, Powell, Trayvon Brommel, Keston Bledman and Jimmy Vicaut. He holds an SB of 9.87s which he ran to win the Eugene Diamond League. He finished 3rd in Lausanne in the race which was won by Gatlin; Gay clocked 9.92s along with Powell who was awarded 2nd position.
