Olympic Sprinter Tyson Gay has experienced many hardships, but the biggest tragedy in his life is losing his daughter. Trinity Gay died today, as she was caught in the crossfire of a shooting in Kentucky. Here’s everything you need to know about her athletic father, Tyson Gay.
U.S. Olympic sprinter, Tyson Gay just lost his 15-year-old daughter, Trinity Gay in the most tragic of situations. His daughter was shot in the neck early Sunday morning, when assailants in two cars exchanged gunfire in a Kentucky restaurant’s car park. Tyson Gay’s name had been made famous, when he was banned from the 2013 Olympics for testing positive for steroids, but he had redeemed himself in the 2016 Olympics. However, Trinity’s untimely death has brought her father’s name into the limelight again, and this time it’s for something even worse than the doping scandal. Here’s everything you need to know about Tyson Gay, including his net worth, Olympic career, and daughter.
Net Worth and Endorsements Affected by Doping Scandal
Tyson Gay’s net worth as of 2016 is $15.0 million.
It’s a considerable improvement since he brought his career back on track. In 2013, his net worth was $12.0 million. He also had numerous endorsement deals from big sporting brands. He had contracts with Adidas, Omega SA, McDonald’s and Sega which amounted to approximately $4.0 million.
In 2013, he tested positive for a banned substance and was subsequently banned for a year. Gay’s sponsors that time dropped the sprinter from the endorsement deals. In 2015, however, Gay joined the Nike-sponsored training group under coach, John Smith. He was also going to wear Nike apparel at sporting events.
Athletic Beginnings
Tyson was born in Lexington, Kentucky to Daisy Gay and Greg Mitchell. His athletic prowess runs in his blood, as his grandmother was a sprinter in Eastern Kentucky University. His mother was also a sprinter, but retired from athletics when she became pregnant in her early teens. Tyson’s sister, Tiffany was a sprinter in high school, as well. It comes as no shock that his daughter, Trinity Gay wanted to follow in her family’s running shoes, too.
Daisy Gay was something of a coach to her children. She encouraged them to pursue athletics, having them race at every opportunity by making them train at school and on the hills around their neighborhood. Tyson’s training paid off and while he was there, he was crowned the fastest at Lafayette High School.
Professional Athletic Career
In university, Gay began competing in NCAA events. He became a rising contender for the 100-meter and 200-meter events in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials. In June 2005, Gay decided to pursue a professional athletic career and competed in the USA Outdoor Championships. He won the silver medal in 200-meter with 20.06 seconds. At the end of 2005, he took the gold at the World Athletics Final. In the 2009 World Championships, he won the silver in the 100-meter event, with a performance time of 9.71 seconds! It was the fastest non-winning time for the event.
Gay’s 2008 Olympic stint was marred by injuries and weak performances. He sought to make up for it in the 2012 Olympics. Gay’s run of 9.80 seconds made him narrowly miss the bronze, but it was his best performance yet. However, he won his first Olympic medal in the 4X100 meters relay final.
Drug Test and Other Problems
Gay’s career was not a smooth-sailing one. When he first began, he had to testify against his coach, who was accused of helping athletes acquire funds and credits they were not entitled to. As a result, Gay lost two NCAA titles and his college track record was annulled. His coach was imprisoned for 10 months, but would still provide Gay with coaching techniques and methods. Gay also took care of his coach’s wife and daughter while he served his sentence.
Then in 2013, Gay had tested positive for a banned substance. He admitted to doping and said he had been let down by someone he trusted. Gay was suspended for a year and his silver medal from the 2012 Olympics was stricken.
Gay returned to the track following his suspension and competed in the 2015 World Athletics Championship. Gay also participated on the U.S. relay team during the 2016 Olympics. The American team finished third, but Gay’s medal was once again stricken when it was found that his teammate, Justin Gaitlin committed a violation.
Trinity Gay’s Untimely Death
Tyson had a daughter with his former girlfriend, Shoshana Boyd. Tyson Gay raised both his daughter and niece, Destin. Trinity Gay lived with her mother but often spent time with her father. She followed in her father’s footsteps and was also a sprinter. Her mother said that she dreamt of being the fastest woman alive. She also wanted to be a surgeon. She attended the same high school as her father and was also the star-sprinter at her school.
On October 16, Trinity Gay was shot in the neck in the parking lot of a restaurant in Lexington. The 15-year-old was an innocent bystander, when shooters in two cars opened fire on each other. She was taken to the hospital where she later died. Authorities are investigating the incident and two people have already been detained.
Trinity Gay’s untimely and tragic demise has greatly affected her parents deeply. A shaken Gay told a radio station that he still can’t comprehend what has happened. “She didn’t make it. I’m so confused. She was just here last week for fall break. It’s so crazy. I have no idea what happened,” he said in an interview, obviously still in shock by the whole situation.
My sincere condolences to #UnitedStates Olympic sprinter #TysonGay on the very tragic loss of his daughter… https://t.co/rQAUgPKMxh pic.twitter.com/0v1q1fJXyb
— Rickey Smiley (@RickeySmiley) October 16, 2016
Our thoughts go out to Tyson Gay and his entire family for this tragic loss.
Sources:
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