[ OUR OPINION ]
Sports world now knows
Bryan Clay is ‘for real’
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As the Olympics approached, American decathlon aficionados were fixed on Tom Pappas, the strapping Greek-American who won last year's world championship, to challenge Czech decathlete Roman Sebric. Low expectations remained even after Clay, a relatively small 5-foot-10, defeated Pappas at Sacramento, wrapping himself in the Hawaii flag.
"It kind of bugs me," Clay told the Star-Bulletin's Dave Reardon after the Sacramento competition. "People didn't expect me to do well, and nobody expected me to do this well. I feel good that I proved that I'm just as good as Tom and Roman. Hopefully, it will stick in people's minds."
If it didn't then, Clay's performance at Athens should eliminate any doubters. Pappas trailed Clay before withdrawing in the eighth event, the pole vault, because of a foot strain. By that time, Clay had made the competition a duel with Sebric, 28, who would narrowly win the gold and the distinction of being the "world's greatest athlete."
Clay, 24, says his dreams of an Olympic medal began at age 8 when he saw television coverage of Carl Lewis competing in the decathlon in the 1988 Games. Training on Castle High's dirt track and, on rainy days, in the school's gymnasium, Clay excelled under the tutorship of Coach Martin Hee, who steered him toward the decathlon. Clay's state-meet records in the 100 meters, 100-meter hurdles, 200 meters and long jump still stand.
Clay left Hawaii to attend Azusa Pacific University, a small California college that produced 1992 Olympic bronze medalist Dave Johnson and other outstanding decathletes. Nike eventually provided him a small stipend, and a group of Hawaii businessmen who are track enthusiasts helped Clay financially as he prepared for the Olympics.
He should have no trouble finding sponsors as he prepares for the next Olympic Games in Beijing.
"We're looking forward toward 2008 because Bryan will be in his prime there," Hee said as he gathered with other friends and relatives at the Mililani home of Clay's mother. "Right now I'm selling a piece of carpet that says Bryan slept here," he said, laughing.
Clay already has begun setting his sights on future competition, promising to "battle it out" with Sebric at their next venue.
"I think people kind of take me for granted," Clay said after winning the silver. "They don't take me seriously sometimes, whether that's because of my personality or my size or whatever. I hope now they'll know that I'm for real."
They know.
