U.S. sprinter Gay vows to fight on

By Belinda Goldsmith

BEIJING (Reuters) - Top-ranked U.S. sprinter Tyson Gay has vowed after a miserable performance in Beijing to fight on to compete at the 2012 London Olympics and says he believes Usain Bolt's world record can be beaten.

The blue ribbon event at the Olympics, the men's 100 meters, had long been expected to be a showdown between the three fastest men of all time -- Gay, the men's 100 and 200 meters world champion, and Jamaicans Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell.

But Gay, recovering from a hamstring injury suffered at the U.S. Olympic trials last month, went out in the semi-finals. Then a botched relay, in which he failed to connect with team mate Darvis Patton, added further frustration.

"Honestly I believe everything happens for a reason and I do believe with my injuries from my hamstring (that) I had to miss a lot of training because of that," Gay told Reuters in an interview at Beijing's main Olympic Green complex.

"It's healthy now and I came and gave it my best at the Games, but I really believe it was bad timing when I got hurt."

Gay said he planned to run in a couple more competitions in Europe this year to "try to end my season on a good note", then take six weeks off and have a Disney holiday in Florida.

But Gay said his experience in Beijing would not deter him because he was 26 now and would be only 29 or 30 when the London Games came around.

"I'm definitely looking forward to 2012. I think I'll be here as long as I take care of my body," he said. "I don't want to just go out without a fight."

Gay said he believed the 100 meters world record set by Bolt of 9.69 seconds was beatable.

"I really believe it is beatable. I don't know if it is going to be me or somebody else, but I think a lot of people will adapt and I think 9.7 to 9.6 will be a number that everyone will be running," he said.

He acknowledged the U.S. team had not done well on the track.

"I think it was a little bit of bad luck. You know the U.S. was one of the only countries who had as much pressure as they had to perform," he said.

Although he failed to leave Beijing with a medal, Gay said he had enjoyed the Olympics and certain aspects particularly.

"Just being in the Olympic village, period. Just being around friends, people from different countries who supported me and told me to keep my head up as I will be back. It was one of the greatest experiences I have had in my life," he said.

(Editing by Ralph Gowling)