Tyson Gay said yesterday his 100m showdown at the world athletics championships this weekend with triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt will decide who is the greatest sprinter of all time.
Gay, 27, comes to Berlin as the fastest man in the world so far this season having ran 9.77secs in Rome last month, while Bolt has clocked 9.79secs.
As the reigning world champion, Gay captured the 100m title two years ago before going on to add 200m and 4x100m gold in Osaka, Japan.
He was only the second sprinter to take all three sprint titles at a world champs, before Jamaica's Bolt, 22, not only did the same thing at the Beijing Olympics, but also broke all three records to grab the world's attention.
Bolt's 100m world record of 9.69secs is under serious threat in Berlin with both the Jamaican and Gay insisting they intend to break it.
"Mentally, I am preparing myself for battle," said Gay who agreed when asked if Sunday's final could well be the race to decide the best sprinter of all time with Jamaica's Asafa Powell also set to challenge Bolt's supremacy.
"I believe it is, it's maybe a little much to say that, but at the same time he (Usain Bolt) has already shown the world what he can do.
"I am pretty sure he can do a lot more, but I have not had the chance to show off my talent yet and I have a lot left in the tank."
And with much of the publicity around the Gay-Bolt showdown, the United States sprinter said he was comfortable with the billing with the 100m heats scheduled for tomorrow morning with the final on Sunday night.
"I am very happy people are putting us together: whether I can beat Usain Bolt or not," he said.
"It's easier to be in a situation where people are comparing me to some great sprinters like Usain Bolt or Carl Lewis or Maurice Greene.
"It feels good to be at that level."
And Gay says breaching the world record is the ultimate target.
"I believe Usain Bolt will try to break the world record, why wouldn't he?" questioned Gay.
"If that is what it takes to win the 100m, that is what I will have to do and I will try to do the same. The world record is the only number I have in mind, I want to win more than anything, but I want to run fast.
"I don't want to run 9.99 and people say it wasn't fast.
"I believe 9.60secs is obtainable - that is my goal.
"The times will surprise people, I believe Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt have brought something to the sport and it's not just about winning.
"I believe there will be a surprise about how fast a human body can go."
And Gay said he is happy in his role as underdog with the eyes of the world ready to see what Bolt can do in Sunday evening's final.
"I am the underdog and I am just going after what he has," said Gay.
"We have a cool relationship, he is a busy man, but when we meet we talk."