|
|
Friday, August 25
Nothstein's time sets sights high for Sydney
Associated Press
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- There was no reason to believe
Marty Nothstein wasn't in top form for the Sydney Olympics. Just to
make sure, he set an American record Thursday.
Nothstein, of Trexlertown, Pa., covered 200 meters in an
American-record 10.092 seconds during qualifying for his specialty
event, the match sprint, at the U.S. Cycling Nationals.
"I've been riding well. I've posted some real fast times,
faster than what I've gone this morning," said Nothstein, the
match sprint silver medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. "I've pushed
the world record on several occasions."
That mark is 9.87 seconds, and if Nothstein can go fast at the
6,000-foot altitude of Colorado Springs, the possibilities are
tantalizing for a sea-level track like the Olympic velodrome in
Sydney.
"He's ready for the Olympics, and today proved it," said
Nothstein's personal coach, Gil Hatton. "This year so far, he's
had the second- or third-fastest times in the world. No question
he's right where he needs to be physically."
With a record 20 national and three world titles, Nothstein is
the most dominant American men's track cyclist ever. Yet cycling is
an afterthought for the average U.S. sports fan, and he's virtually
unknown away from a velodrome.
"The road riders have the Tour de France every year. We
don't," he said. "We have the world championships, the Pan Am
Games, and the Olympics every four years. So right now, this is our
time to shine."
If things go as Nothstein hopes, he's sure to become a household
name at the Sydney Olympics, where he's favored in the match sprint
and Keirin.
"I'd like to win two gold medals down there," he said. "There
aren't too many riders in the world who can claim they're capable
of winning two gold medals. Fortunately, I'm one of those riders."
Big words, for sure. But when Nothstein speaks, he comes off as
relaxed and confident, not cocky and arrogant. One look at his
sculpted 6-foot-2, 220-pound body, and there seems no reason to
doubt him.
"I'm in really good shape right now," he said with a smile.
"I'm strong, I'm fast and I'm quick. Anything's possible."
Nothstein's got another thing going for him: a hyper-competitive
killer instinct. During warmups, he goes into an emotional trance,
his forehead furrowed in concentration.
And that's just the beginning.
"When Marty gets toward the end of the race, he transforms into
a different person," Hatton said. "He's so competitive. When we
compete in almost anything, whether it's golf, hunting or whatever,
he transforms."
Away from the track, Nothstein has loaned his name to the
sport's junior circuit in the United States. When cycling people
talk about him, they refer to him as "Marty" without having to
say his last name.
Now it's on to unfinished business. Nothstein lost to Germany's
Jens Fiedler in a photo finish in Atlanta. It was a disappointment,
but Nothstein's goal in his first Olympics was to win a medal, so
he accomplished that.
That won't be enough this time.
"It's gold, for sure," he said. "I didn't train at this
level, with this intensity, to get a certificate for participating
in the Olympics. I want to bring some hardware home."
|  | |
ALSO SEE
Armstrong places fifth in final tuneup for Olympic cycling
Witty skips rideoff against Thomas for unknown reasons
|