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There is no reason why I cannot beat Bolt - Gay

Tyson Gay beat Usain Bolt in Stockholm last year © Getty Images

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Tyson Gay believes that it is inevitable that the world record will be shattered in the men's 100m final at London 2012.

Having been forced to live in Usain Bolt's shadow, Gay believes he is more than capable of beating the Jamaican if he can manage to avoid injury in the run up to next summer's Olympic Games.

Gay has struggled with hamstring, back, groin and knee injuries over the years, but he is honing his technique in a bid to avoid further setbacks as he bids to become the fastest man on the planet.

"Being No. 2 in any sport doesn't sound good," Gay told the Daily Mail. "I saw a programme on TV and they used me as an analogy for one of the football sides, the Pittsburgh Steelers I think. 'Similar to Tyson Gay: can put up great numbers but still lose.'

"It's not really a burden -- it's just the way it is. In America it's hard to accept No. 2. It's the pride of the United States. If people know me here it's only because they follow track, even though I am the fastest man who has ever walked in America - football, any sport. I am the second fastest man in history and getting to No. 1 is what keeps me going. It keeps me humble."

Gay missed the Olympic showdown in Beijing with Bolt after failing to recover from an injury, but he believes that if both he and Bolt are fit in London next summer the world record will fall.

He beat Bolt in Stockholm last year, and although much was made of an injury to Bolt, Gay insists he was not in perfect shape either.

"I beat him 9.84sec against 9.97sec," Gay said. "When I said at the time that he wasn't 100 per cent fit, I was not playing down what I had done. We were both 85 or 90 per cent fit. I was no more right than he was.

"As world record holder he does not want to lose. The point is that when he stepped out to race he did not think he would lose. Otherwise, he would not have been there.

"If we are both 100 per cent, there is no reason why I cannot beat him. If we are both 100 per cent fit it will be a world record, 100 per cent. I don't know what the time will be. But I'll do whatever it takes."

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