As the 2009 athletics season drew to a close, there was just one name on everyone’s lips: Usain Bolt.
 

That should not come as any real surprise considering the giant Jamaican has torn up the script of what is within the realms of human possibility. In a 12 month span, Bolt has twice destroyed both the 100 and 200 metres world records as well as the 4x100m relay world record.

If his performance at the Beijing Olympics – where he slowed down whilst rewriting the history books - was outstanding, the adjective to describe his performance in Berlin has yet to be invented. Perhaps 9.58sec in the 100m and 19.19 in the 200m says it all.

But while the world marvels at the majesty Bolt, a humble American lurks quietly in the background and who, despite his truly remarkable feats, seems to be the forgotten man of world sprinting.
 

His name is Tyson Gay and he is the man with the great privilege and huge misfortune of being the closest rival to Bolt.
 

In the 100m final in Berlin, Gay - who was the defending world champion over the 100m, 200m and 4x 100m relay – ran the astonishing time of 9.71, the third-fastest time in history. This time set a new United States record and when considering that modern sprinting greats such as Maurice Greene and Carl Lewis are from those shores, that certainly is no mean feat. Yet Gay only finished second.
 

Indeed 9.71 would have bought Gay a gold medal and world record in all but two races in the history of the event. Unfortunately for Gay, he ran against the genetic freak who won those two races. Whilst any normal person would have been delighted with the time and furious with Bolt, the mild mannered American just shrugged his shoulders, congratulated Bolt and told the world's media that his time simply wasn't good enough. What a true gentleman. I really can't help but feel sorry for Gay. Of all the world’s athletes, he suffers most from being born in the era of Bolt.
 

Let us take those American sprinting greats Greene and Lewis I mentioned and let’s throw in some other 100m legends like Linford Christie, Frankie Fredericks, Ato Boldon and current sprint rival Asafa Powell. Gay’s time beats them all over the distance. And on top of that, just three weeks ago at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, Gay ran the second-fastest men's 100 metres on record.

His winning time of 9.69 equaled the time set by Bolt at the Beijing Olympics. And all this with a nagging groin injury that is soon to go under the surgeon’s knife. He should be blistering next season then. But still, nobody appears to care.
 

Only the more knowledgeable athletics fans are even aware that Gay recently ran a time of 9.69 and can comprehend how unbelievably fast that is. But to many, Gay simply remains the man who is favorite to finish first behind Bolt.

 

However, there remains a realistic possibility that Gay could yet emerge from the great man’s enormous shadow.  Although the American is obviously a phenomenal 100m runner, I believe his best distance is over the 200m and when I had the privilege of meeting Bolt in London earlier this year, he told me the same thing.
 

Gay's best time over the distance is 19.58, the third fastest over the distance behind Bolt and sprint legend Michael Johnson. A less commonly known fact is that Gay has only raced Bolt over 200m in one major final at the 2007 Osaka World Championships. And Gay won.
 

True, he wasn't racing the fully matured version of Usain Bolt we have come to know and worship. Rather a very talented 21-year-old from Jamaica who at the time, was only destined for greatness. But even so, Gay won and therefore still holds the better head to head record over the distance. Surely that must count for something?   
 

Don’t misunderstand me, I love Usain Bolt. I think what he is doing for the sport is superb and he is without a doubt the “coolest” guy I have ever met. But I really hope that Gay beats him next season. And what’s more, I think it could happen.
 

Why?
 

Was it just me, or was Gay gaining on Bolt in the Berlin 100m final after the Jamaican’s far superior start? Furthermore, I think that if Gay has a successful operation on his groin - lets say it takes 0.7 off his personal best over 100m and 200m - and improves on the poor starts he been prone to this season; he could be a genuine threat to Bolt.
 

Let me set you a scenario. Bolt and Gay line up for a major race in 2010, let’s say – because I’m English - at the Crystal Palace Grand Prix. Bolt – as he is at the moment- is considered unbeatable while Gay is in good form though the two are racing for the first time in the season. Bolt is in lane six while Gay is just inside in lane five. The gun goes off and while Bolt gets a poor start (which is more than feasible) Gay come flying out of the blocks. After a perfect bend, Gay surges past Bolt with 70 meters left to go.
 

Bolt, who has not experienced the situation for centuries, begins to tighten up. He realises that his immortality is under threat by the last man to beat him in a major final. The crowd see Bolt struggle for the first time in their lives and their cheers spur Gay over the line in a world record time of 19.18. Bolt finishes a distant second in 19.25.
 

Imagine the headlines..."Lightning Strikes Bolt!" "Gay Topples Superman!" "Bolt Beaten Bad." Okay, I’m a little crazy and I’ve gone well into the realms of fantasy while my imagination is running away with me but if anyone can beat Bolt, it’s Gay.
 

Certainly Gay has more chance of achieving victory over the Jamaican that Dwain Chambers with his ridiculous "Project Bolt", which had about as much merit as me heading to my garage, pulling out my second-hand golf clubs and embarking on “Project Woods".

But in all seriousness, how fantastic it would be if once, just once, Bolt was beaten and we had a rivalry rather than a procession on our hands? While we all love watching the “Usain Bolt Show”, seeing one man consistently destroy seven others will eventually become tedious. And Gay beating Bolt could actually turn out help Bolt.
 

The Jamaican – who has achieved almost everything in the sport - needs a challenge like all sporting greats who have thrived because of a fierce rival’s challenge. Ali had Frazer, Borg had McEnroe and Federer’s career became far more intriguing when a young Spaniard called Nadal turned up. A true Bolt v Gay rivalry would undoubtedly be exciting to watch and would be fantastic for the sport of athletics.
 

So let us appreciate the talents of Tyson Gay. Let us cheer him on and let us be grateful that we, the spectators, have a man on our hands who is perhaps the only man in history with the potential to challenge the greatness of Bolt. After all; who better to challenge the fastest man of all time than the second?

 

Tom Degun is a reporter with insidethegames.biz