Sunday, June 29, 2008

Sprinter Tyson Gay Cruises to Beijing

Eugene, Oregon- Sprinter Tyson Gay pulled away in the men’s 100 meters with a finish of dashing 9.68. Gay with the help of a 4.2 meter per second winded aided finish, but will not count as a new world record because it was run with the help of a strong tailwind.

Gay proved that is a main contender at the Beijing Olympics. He becomes the first man to ever run under 9.72 seconds besides Obadele Thompson in 1996 who ran 9.69.

The world record for the men's 100m dash set by Jamica’s Usain Bolt’s still stands as 9.72. In 2005, Jamaica’s Asafa Powell lowered the world record in the men’s 100 meters to 9.77 seconds.

Edging the Competition: Swimmers set to premier new suits at trials

In the wake of the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, Nebraska, the big buzz won't be just about Olympians Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff. Tonight's primary focus will be on the suit.

Since the dawn of Speedo’s LZR Racer swimsuit, much controversy has surrounded the suit for its technological role in making swimmers swim faster and stronger.

Although the suit was tested in NASA wind tunnels and approved by the sports international governing body, it contains scientific measures that are sure to help American swimmers edge out their competition.

The suit which reduces drag with ultrasonically bonded seams and made of lightweight fabric that is water repellent making swimmers more hydrodynamic is being labeled as a performance-enhancer equipment or “technological doping” according to critics that say the suit gives swimmers an unfair advantage over competition.

Before the age of the suit, Olympic world records have not fallen since eight years ago when the world recorded 27 Olympic event world records in 2000, according to numbers compelled by USA swimming.

It was in 1980 when the world recorded the greatest number of world records and this was also the year the East German women’s team was found doping.

But the number of World Records could substantially break tonight or in the Beijing Olympics as swimmers take 15 to 30 minutes to squeeze into those tight-fitted Speedo swimsuits.

The world will be watching tonight as skepticism will surround the pool as the swimming trials are under way. Let’s just phantom that it’s not the swimsuit the makes the swimmer, but the swimmer makes the suit. Not everyone will feel like a superhero in tonight’s trials?

Say It Isn't So: Sprinter Gatlin Loses Appeal

After weeks of appealing to run in the U.S Olympic track trails in Eugene, Oregon, Justin Gatlin finally realized that he’s not going to Beijing this summer.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta ruled that Gatlin has not shown that he meets an “applicable standard for such an injunction.” Gatlin lost his appeal after stating in the appeal that he was unrightfully discriminated against under the Americans with Disability Act because he was talking a prescribed medication to treat his attention deficit disorder.

Although earlier this month the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a four-year ban against Gatlin for doping violations not excusing his 2001 doping offense in which he stated that he was taking a prescribed medication.

That maybe true, but how many athletes would continue taking a medication that is banned or knowingly contains high dosage of steroids.

Gatlin seems to have his 2001 doping offense all figured out, but what about his other doping offenses? How did he think that the CCA was going to rule in his favor?

Remember when he claimed that his then-coach Trevor Graham had a trainer rub cream on his leg explaining that’s how he tested positive for steroids.

What a minute! Isn’t this the same scenario that happened to former Olympic medalist Marion Jones? Jones stated the she told her then-coach Trevor Graham that she was taking flaxseed oil, not the steroid known as THG or “the clear.”

It seems that these two prodigies of Graham certainly didn’t understand how they were testing positive for steroids or performance enhancing drugs.

Whatever the case might be, it seems very peculiar that an athlete would continue training with a coach that knowingly drugged his athletes.

It would be a warning sign, but I guess the reward is greater than the cost. As for Gatlin, maybe he’ll continue coaching track at his former high school and stop appealing doping offenses.
Certainly the U.S track and field team doesn’t need a savior right now, but could use the help of sprinter Tyson Gay to help the U.S. capture a gold medal in men’s 100m dash at this year’s Olympics.

Maybe-just maybe the Americans will be able to hold on to the gold and not find out that another sprinter is involved in the BALCO doping scandal.