BEIJING — The injury that kept him from qualifying for a second event is healed, and Tyson Gay feels ready for his first round of competition in the 100 meters at the Beijing Summer Olympics.

The rehabilitated left hamstring is untested in competition, but, "I've had good practices," Gay said Monday, "so if everything goes well, I can have a real fast time."

If that happens, the anticipated showdown featuring Gay and rival sprinters Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell of Jamaica can go forward with all the hype the matchup is expected to produce.

"Having three guys that have run 9.7 in the same race, it's amazing," Gay said. "When you look at that field, it's about going four rounds, at the Olympics at that. The history part means a lot to me, but I'd rather win the gold medal first and see how history plays out."

Gay, 26, the U.S. record holder, may have to overcome some internal doubt to beat Bolt, the current world record holder, and Powell, the former world record holder. On July 5, Gay crumbled to the track in Eugene, Ore., suffering a hamstring injury in the 200-meter dash at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

"I was in a little bit of a panic," Gay said. "It really hurt when I first slightly pulled it. And it hurt my confidence a little bit. Once I got back to jogging and stretching, my confidence started to come back."

Gay is scheduled begin the first round of the 100-meters on Friday.

He's more nervous than he was before the he won the 100-meter world championship in 2007 and no longer feels like a clear favorite for the gold medal because of the injury. Still, Gay said, the most pressure might be with Bolt, who is attempting to win two gold medals in the 100 and 200, and with Powell, who is trying to regain his world record in the 100.

"A lot of people in his country expect him (Bolt) to win gold," Gay said. "Anyone can be the favorite right now. I think it's going to come down to handling the pressure."