Yohan Blake

Yohan Blake established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the world of athletics. In 2007, Blake broke the Jamaican junior record for the 100m sprint with an impressive time of 10.11 seconds at the CARIFTA Games. He not only excelled individually, but also contributed to his team’s 4x100m relay victory at the event.

Blake’s exceptional performances continued at the senior level. He became the youngest athlete to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m race with a time of 9.96 seconds. He further improved his personal best to 9.93 seconds, demonstrating his prowess as a sprinter. In 2011, at the World Championships, Blake emerged as the youngest 100m world champion ever at 21 years and 245 days old, surpassing the previous record set by Carl Lewis. He continued to dominate the track, clocking a personal best of 9.82 seconds in the 100m and 19.26 seconds in the 200m race, the second-fastest time ever recorded.

Entering the 2012 London Olympics, Blake was considered a genuine contender for the 100m and 200m titles. Although he ultimately finished second to Usain Bolt in both events, he recorded the fastest non-winning time in history for the 200m race. Later in 2012, Blake ran the 100m in 9.69 seconds, tying with Tyson Gay as the second-fastest man in history, trailing only Bolt. After overcoming injuries in 2013 and 2014, Yohan Blake returned to form in 2016, defending his national titles in both the 100m and 200m events.

Despite his best efforts, Blake narrowly missed out on a medal at the World Athletics Championships 2017, finishing fourth in the 100m final. He began his 2018 season with an eye on the Commonwealth Games but stumbled in the final, resulting in a bronze medal finish. In 2019, Blake underwent a coaching change, which went throughout the season. At the 2020 Summer Olympics, he experienced a disappointing performance as he failed to reach the 100m final with a time of 10.14 seconds in his semifinal heat.

Yohan Blake was born on 26 December 1989 in St. James, Jamaica. Hailing from the Parish of Clarendon, Yohan Blake began his educational journey at Green Park Primary and Junior High School. His potential as a promising athlete was first recognized by coach Carlton Solan while Blake was studying at Davies Primary School. During Blake’s time at Green Park, Hopeton Bailey headed the Physical Education Department and coordinated all sports activities. Blake later attended St. Jago High School in Spanish Town, where he initially showed a strong passion for cricket. There, his running speed caught the attention of the school principal. The principal suggested him to try his hands at sprinting after being Impressed by Blake’s speed.