Ashton Eaton of the U.S. crosses the finish line to win the men’s 60-meter hurdles race of the heptathlon. (AP-Yonhap News)
ISTANBUL (AP) ― Justin Gatlin’s fear of fading into obscurity disappeared in a sprint for gold at the world indoor championships.
Shortly after teammate Ashton Eaton set a heptathlon world record on an all-American day in Istanbul, Gatlin earned his first gold medal since serving a four-year doping suspension and Sanya Richards-Ross won the 400 meters by a wide margin.
Gatlin chased down Nesta Carter to win the 60 meters in 6.46 seconds ― 0.08 seconds better than his Jamaican rival.
“It feels like I am reborn again,” said Gatlin, insisting he would be gunning for the London Olympics at age 30, eight years after winning the 100 title at the 2004 Athens Games.
Eaton dominated the two-day competition from start to finish, capping it with an overwhelming 1,000-meter win. He broke the record he set last year by 77 points with a total of 6,645, clinching gold and the record to earn $90,000.
“I was good, fit and healthy,” Eaton said. “If all things went well, I knew I would be able to do it.”
Richards-Ross won in 50.79 second, beating Russian Aleksandra Fedoriva by a massive 0.97 seconds.
Her gold medal held special significance considering her husband is cornerback Aaron Ross, who plays for the Super Bowl-winning New York Giants.
“Just realized.... My hubby and I are both World Champs in a matter of weeks!!!,” Richards-Ross wrote on Twitter.
Gatlin rallied after Carter had a fast start.
“I just went and grabbed him and passed him,” Gatlin said.
After his suspension ended in mid-2010, Gatlin worked off the pounds and got the spring back in his sprint.
“The name of the game is relevancy. One of my biggest fears was to be ignored,” Gatlin said.
No more.
Gatlin was suspended after testing positive for excessive testosterone in 2006.
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
