Golden shade of Cray

This win is what I really need to make it to Tokyo next year.

ERIC Cray refuses to crack under extreme pressure. ROMAN PROSPERO @tribunephl_RRP

Everybody was shocked when Eric Cray bombed out of the men’s 100-meter run of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games without taking a single step.

The two-time Olympian lost a chance to win a gold medal the unconventional way: He got disqualified.

“Getting disqualified in the 100 meters was hard for me,” said Cray, the 31-year-old sprinter from San Antonio, Texas who was regarded as the country’s brightest hopes to rule the century dash.

“I didn’t expect that I would be assessed with two false starts. I know I am excited to compete, but I didn’t expect that the excitement would come with a hefty price.”

But instead of sulking and crying over the missed opportunity, Cray displayed the heart of a champion by storming back to win the gold medal in the men’s 400-meter hurdles.

His transformation was massive: From zero to hero.

“Man, I came here to compete,” Cray said after clocking an incredible 50.21 seconds in his pet event.

“I’m so happy. Playing it down for the last two years, a lot of people were looking at me. Of course, there were a lot of bad times, especially when I got disqualified in the century run.”

“But I didn’t put pressure on myself. Instead, I used it as a motivation to bounce back stronger, faster.”

Cray’s heroics enabled the Philippines to claim 11 gold medals in the prestigious biennial meet.

Actually, the projection was to win only six, but a lot of unheralded athletes delivered, making the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association as among the most outstanding sports federations in the SEA Games.

“When it comes to these games — at home — and getting disqualified and not getting the win, it could sound horrible but it happens,” the Filipino-American sensation said.

“But I’m trying to put it behind me. I am just so happy right now that I’m a SEA Games gold medalist once more. I can’t explain the feeling.”

He added that with that kind of performance, he is more than ready to see action in the Olympics.

“I know the training, I am working hard,” he said.

“I’m right in pace for the Olympics. I am training to make it there. This year, coming home, I know it will be good for me to get my confidence back.”

“With the whole country in your back, it should do good enough for you. This win is what I really need to make it to Tokyo next year.”