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Greene and gold World champion believes he can beat his 100-meter mark
Posted: Thursday March 16, 2000 01:12 PM
By Ken Klavon, CNNSI.com It's hard to imagine anyone having a better year than Maurice Greene did in 1999. After dashing 100 meters in 9.79 seconds in Athens to obliterate Donovan Bailey's world record by five-tenths of a second, Greene breezed to world titles in the 100 and 200 meters and the 4x100 relay. Greene expects to earn gold medals in all three events at the Summer Games in Sydney. "I just want to do the same things -- run consistently and win every race that I can," Greene told CNN/Sports Illustrated recently. "I believe I'm going to win and that's what I'm going [to Sydney] to do." The 25-year-old native of Kansas City, Kans., hopes to complete a third consecutive year as the World's Fastest Human. In '99 he lost just once indoors and once outdoors as a sprinter.
Green's remarkable record in '99 was a testament to his consistency and work ethic. He credits sprint coach John Smith for preparing him for the Olympics. Greene streaked to a season-best 6.45 in the 60 meters at the Millrose
Barring a colossal flop at the U.S. trials, Greene will be the sprinter to beat in Sydney. It's the scenario he's envisioned since bowing out of the '96 Atlanta Games with a hamstring injury. Greene agonized from afar while rival Bailey made his own history in the 100 meters at those Olympics, running a stunning 9.84. "Oh, I shed a lot of tears watching the 100 final in the stands," Greene said. "I was very hurt by it and told myself I wouldn't let another final go [by]." Since then Greene has concentrated on perfecting his technique. He's aiming to lower his dizzying 9.79 100-meter record, a mark he feels can be broken. "If I felt that [9.79] was a complete race, then there wouldn't be a need
for me to run track anymore," he says. "I can run faster than what
I've already done. I have a goal of 9.76, but my coach says I can run in the
9.6s."
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