ERIC SHAUWN CRAY will be competing for the last time at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December-ending a 12-year career donning the country’s colors and yielding eight gold medals in the biennial meet where he earned the title ‘Sprint King.’
‘This will be the last one,’ Cray told BusinessMirror on Friday via phone call from his base in San Antonio, Texas. ‘I will try to close one chapter of my career with an impressive performance, trying to achieve that goal and win the gold.’
Cray’s retirement was actually announced in a Facebook post by the Team Philippines-SEA Games/Asian Games/Olympics/Latest Updates group last October 11.
‘I’m very gratefully to PATAFA [Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association] for allowing me to represent the Philippines as my country,’ the 37-year-old said. ‘It was a great career, but I want to have one final great sprint for my fellow Filipinos.’
In between his dominant performance in the SEA Games, Cray ran in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics and won the 400 meters hurdles gold at the 2017 Asian championships.
He was hirdles king in the 2013 (Myanmar), 2015 (Singapore), 2017 Kuala Lumpur), 2019 (Philippines), 2022 (Hanoi) and up to 2023 (Cambodia) SEA Games.
He also won the 100 meters SEA Games gold in 2015 Games and was part of the 2019 4×100 meters mixed relay champion squad.
Asked of a possible seventh straight 400 meters hurdles gold Thailand, Cray said: ‘Nothing can stop me from doing that. I do not know about the record, but I still have the speed to win the gold and be on top.’
‘So far, I just have this minor sore on my knees, but I believe I can do it,’ he added.
Cray, whose mother Maria originally is from Olongapo City, expressed his desire to help PATAFA and its president Terry Capistrano to find new talents and teach the next generation of athletes.
‘My next plan after being an athlete is to help the Philippines’ next generation of sprinters, runners and hurdlers to be successful overseas,’ Cray said. ‘I do not know what will be the set up, but I am willing to help in any means I can.’
He also praised 16-year-old Pi Durden Wangkay for winning the 3rd Asian Youth Games 200 meters gold medal in Bahrain two weeks ago, saying he is a ‘great athlete that could lead the Philippines in bringing home glorious overseas achievements in years to come.’
‘Great kid. He is going to be the Philippines’ next best athletes out there,’ he said.
Capistrano said Cray-considering his work ethic and dedication-could repeat as 400 hurdles champion in Thailand.
‘Eric Cray is a seasoned athlete. So, when he told us that he can still win a gold medal at his final performance in SEA Games, we did not hesitate to give him a chance,’ Capistrano said. ‘We believe in him.’
Cray is also a reserve in the 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams.