Gay, Gatlin Test Might Today

US sprint heavyweights Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin will go head-to-head in the Diamond League meeting in Paris today, with home hope Christophe Lemaitre also hoping to show his form ahead of the fast-approaching London Olympics.

Gay and Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion coming back from a doping ban, have both qualified for the US team for the  27 July-12 August Games, coming through unscathed from their notoriously tough national trials in Eugene last week.

And Lemaitre, 22, arrives on the back of having sealed his second European 100m title.

But Gay, the US national record holder and second fastest man of all-time at 9.68sec, said he was confident heading towards the London Games after a slow return from a hip injury that required surgery.

“I feel pretty good, considering I came back and made the team. I was under a lot of stress, mentally and physically, early in the season, but I feel a lot better now,” said the double sprint champion from the 2007 Osaka worlds.

“In March I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to go to the trials, I was in so much pain. But then after running a few races I was feeling a lot better.

“We’re just focusing on the gold medal. First to make the team, then getting the medal. And just trying to stay positive about everything.”

Lemaitre, French record holder in the 100m (9.92), said it would be tough coming back into competition after the Europeans in Helsinki.

“I went home and did a few training sessions and I feel good,” he said.

“But it’s very special for me to run in front of a French crowd. We’re very lucky here in Paris to have this Diamond League meeting, and I’m really looking forward to it.”