Sport
London 2012: Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake rivalry adds more excitment to track events
Buoyed by sheer numbers up and down the lineup of events, the United States led all nations with 23 medals. But that matched the country’s second-lowest total since 1992, and two medals were squandered when both 4×100-meter relay teams dropped the baton. So instead of celebrating after Beijing, the U.S. track team returned home and tried to regroup.
The result: “Project 30,” a boldly stated mission to win 30 medals in London – a goal that leaders of the track team have only tepidly embraced since former CEO Doug Logan was fired not long after setting it.
“That’s a ‘reach’ goal,” said the new CEO, Max Siegel. “But I’m very confident we’ll have a good showing over in London.”
Among America’s best sprinters is Carmelita Jeter, the world leader at 100 meters before Fraser-Pryce ran faster, and the strongest U.S. candidate to win three medals – in the 100, 200 and 4×100 relay.
And on the men’s side, there are a couple of familiar names: Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin. Gatlin is the 2004 Olympic champion at 100 meters who is back on the international scene following a four-year ban for excessive testosterone. Gay is the 2007 world champion – the man to beat before Bolt burst onto the scene – who is still working his way back into form from a hip injury, one of a number of ailments starting to dwarf his list of accomplishments.
Gatlin and Gay have met twice in recent weeks, with Gatlin winning at the U.S. Olympic trials, and Gay taking a victory in Paris. If form holds, they’ll be racing for the bronze in the 100 in London.
But as Bolt found out at his Olympic trials, these races are not won on paper.
