Darvis Patton: Usain Bolt 'Freak of Nature'

America's Darvis Patton expected competitors for the gold medal are World Champion Tyson Gay, former world record holder Asafa Powell and Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, who Patton has described as a 'freak of nature'.

In addition to qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Team with his third-place finish in the 100m final at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., Patton posted a personal best in the quarterfinal with his blistering time of 9.89 seconds.

America's Darvis Patton shares his thoughts on his chances of medal at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics ahead of the 100 meters final on August 16.

Patton enjoyed a rebirth in 2007 highlighted by his eighth-place 100m finish at the USA Outdoor Championships, runner-up placing at the Pan Am Games and gold medal winning performance in the 4x100m relay at the World Outdoor Championships in Osaka, Japan

What do you think of the 100 meter line up at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics?

"Bolt, Gay, Asafa phenomenal athletes you know, but I feel my chances are as strong as anybodies. I mean, I made the team, the hardest part is getting out of the United Sates trials it is kind of downhill from now."

What do you think of Usain Bolt?

"He’s a freak of nature man, he is an amazing athlete, he’s a freak of nature but I think on an Olympic stage at a 100 meter final anything can happen."

What is the atmosphere like in the USA 4 x 100 meter relay team?

"We have a nice comradery we have times when we don’t get the baton around like we would want to but once we get it around we are pretty excited because we know we have a great team going out there, we ’re going to put out the best four guys, and even though Tyson wasn’t able to practice with us at the time, me and Tyson are going to do hand offs after the 100meters so we have plenty of time to incorporate him into the hand off."

There is alot to do just to get the final of the 100m yes?

"I think you can’t take any round for granted, I mean this is some peoples dream to get here and they are not going to ease through the rounds you have to advance and that is exactly what I am trying to do.

My goal here is to get top two finishes in every round and advance to the final I think anything can happen when you reach the final."

What does it mean to you to get a medal?

"Words couldn’t describe right now, just because I know I put alot of hard work into this the past couple of years I had injuries and I finally made it through all those injuries and knowing that I did everything the right way and to come away with a medal would be indescribable right now."

Are you expected to win gold when you are on the USA team?

"I don’t know I guess it started back, my first memory was Carl Lewis coming across the line in the 4 x 100 coming accross raising his hands winning double gold in the one and the two I guess that set the standard for United States sprinting and I guess we want to uphold that tradition.

I think anything short of gold is not failure but it is a kind of a disappointment."

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2008 Beijing Summer Olympics
100 Meter Sprinter Darvis Patton: Usain Bolt is a 'Freak of Nature'