(Sports Network) - American sprinter Tyson Gay said Monday at the Beijing Olympics that he is "fully recovered" from a hamstring injury suffered last month at the U.S. Track and Field trials in Eugene, Oregon. Gay, the defending world champion at both the 100- and 200-meter distances, injured his left leg in the quarterfinals of the 200 at the trials, pulling up lame on the curve. The injury, which was diagnosed as a severe cramp, kept Gay from qualifying for the 200m in Beijing, and it was initially feared that it could also keep him from competing at the Olympics in the 100, which he had qualified for earlier at the trials.

The former University of Arkansas star will also be a member of the men's 4x100m relay team at the Beijing Games, his first Olympics.

"My hamstring is 100 percent now. It took about four weeks for it to get fully recovered," said Gay. "I've basically been getting rehab on it and doing some light training in the process."

Gay originally thought he'd be able to run in a pre-Olympic race in London on July 25, but opted to stay out of competition prior to Beijing.

"I'd rather be a 100 percent coming into the Olympics than risk being 85 percent going to a meet just to see where I'm at," added Gay. "I had a few chances in practice to see where I'm at and that kind of gave me a confidence booster."

The American sprinter is expected to have some serious competition for gold in the 100 at the Summer Games from Jamaicans Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt. Powell held the world record in the event for three years before Bolt broke the mark with a blazing 9.72 run to defeat Gay in New York City on May 31.

Heats in the men's 100m begin Friday at Beijing National Stadium.









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