The 34-year-old entered the event in Canadian city Calgary - to much fanfare - but was not on the starting list as Ryan Bailey, another track star, won the men's competition.

The event is seen as the first step to making the American national team but Gay decided he was not quite ready yet to compete.

"Tyson Gay, the American record holder in the 100m, opted not to compete in the men’s push competition," a USA Bobsleigh statement said.

"Gay flew to Calgary after finishing commitments following the 2016 Rio Olympics and has pushed a sled no more than 10 times. 

"After meeting with the coaching staff it was decided that it was in Gay’s best interest to focus on learning and to watch the competition. 

"He is expected to continue training with the team and may compete in the combination pushes later this week."

Sprinters have regularly made the switch to bobsleigh as their skill pushing the sled at speed is a highly valuable asset when it comes to the all-important start.

Gay won the 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka and boasts a personal 100m best of 9.69sec, the joint third quickest time on record.

Bailey, fifth in the London 2012 Olympic 100m, entered in Calgary after winning the men's push athlete preliminary competition in Lake Placid last month following his switch to bobsleigh.

He pushed a time of five seconds from the brakes and 5.05 from the side for a total time of 10.05, which was enough to win despite him only pushing on ice for the first time this week.

"It’s a lot faster on ice, a lot faster," Bailey said. 

"It wasn’t too much different at the start, but once it hit the crest and started going downhill the sled picks up speed really fast. 

"I tried to think to myself, ‘Run faster, run faster."

Two-time Olympic medalist Elana Meyers Taylor won the women's competition with a combined time of 10.99.

The men's and women's drivers' titles were won by Olympic gold medalist Justin Olsen and Olympic bronze medalist Aja Evans respectively.