Profile | Yohan Blake: biography, top speed, Jamaican national records, and Covid-19 vaccine refusal ahead of the Tokyo 2020

From promising youth cricketer to multiple track gold medals, ‘Beast’ goes step for step with the world’s fastest
Going into his third Games, Blake explains why he would ‘rather miss the Olympics than take a vaccine’

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

SCMP Reporter

Published: 4:45pm, 30 Jun 2021

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Yohan Blake is quite literally the second-fastest man on the planet with his 100-metre and 200m personal bests just milliseconds behind former Jamaica teammate Usain Bolt.

There was a time when the two-time Olympic gold medallist was considered to be even more promising than his countryman, as Blake is still the holder the Jamaican junior national 100m record and is the youngest-ever 100m world champion.

In 2008, Bolt told fans to “watch out for Yohan Blake” because he “works like a beast and is there with me step-for-step in training”. High praise from the undisputed greatest sprinter of all time – and not a bad nickname, too.

Whether the “Beast” will ever reach his early career promise remains to be seen – Bolt has since retired with newborn twins earlier this month – but there is no doubt he will roll back the years when he assumes his lane position at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. From his impressive youth cricket career, to being part of the legendary Jamaica sprinting quartet, to his refusal to take a Covid-19 vaccine ahead of next month, here’s what you need to know about the motivational 31-year-old speedster.

100m sprint bronze medallist Yohan Blake of Jamaica on the podium at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia in 2018. Photo: AP

Biography

Yohan Blake was born on December 26, 1989 in St James, Jamaica. He was an avid cricketer at St Jago High School and was known for his fast bowling. It did not take long for the school to identify how physically quick he was and later it convinced him to prioritise short-distance racing. He still reportedly plays cricket in the off-season for Kingston Cricket Club.

Blake’s ascent to the top of the sport was done in trademark supersonic fashion. After clinching multiple junior and youth golds, he would secure the national junior 100m records (10.11 seconds, aged 16) before linking up with former coach Glen Mills to make a name at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

Jamaica’s Yohan Blake and Usain Bolt celebrate after winning the men’s 4x100m relay final at the London 2012 Olympic Games in London in 2012. Photo: AFP

His gold medal-winning performance ensured he became the youngest 100m champion in history at 21 years old, surpassing US great Carl Lewis. Bolt returned from his previous disqualification to help the Jamaicans break their own 4x100m relay record from Beijing 2008. Blake, though largely overshadowed by Bolt’s accomplishments, managed to beat his compatriot in both events in 2012.

At the 2012 London Games, debutant Blake won two silver medals in the 100m and 200m. He was pipped by Bolt, who later helped the Jamaicans win the 4x100m relay gold, but was touted as a serious threat to the defending champion. The Jamaicans would go on to win it again in Rio four years later.

Blake’s next two years were ruined by injury and he only returned in full flow in 2015. Having missed out on the immediate national championships, he broke into the starting field with a sub-10 second 100m time, before winning the national 100m and 200m medals. After narrowly missing out on a podium place in the 100m and 200m in Rio, Blake would win national titles twice more despite his times creeping upwards. Tokyo 2020 will be his third Olympic Games appearance.

Top speed

Blake’s personal 100m best of 9.69 seconds is tied-second in the world with the USA’s Tyson Gay, while he holds the second-fastest 200m time of 19.26 seconds.

He has long been in the same conversations as – if not considered better than – the likes of Gay, fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell and Christian Coleman.

His latest season 100m best is 10.05 at a Jamaican qualifying, with the Jamaica Observer suggesting he is returning to his “world-class best” ahead of the Games. With Bolt retired, the relay team is comprised of Blake, Powell, Julian Forte and Oshane Bailey – known as “Jamaica Gold”.

‘I’d rather miss the Olympics than take the vaccine’

In February, Blake raised some eyebrows after claiming he would not take the Covid-19 vaccination that was recommended by Olympics organisers ahead of the postponed Games.

Speaking to newspaper Jamaica Gleaner, he said: “My mind still stays strong. I don’t want any vaccine. I’d rather miss the Olympics than take the vaccine. I am not taking it. I don’t really want to get into it now, but I have my reasons.

“Follow your mind, don’t follow the crowd. At the same time, be respectful to each and every one. Don’t let no one take away your choice,” he later asserted in a video on Twitter.

Teammate Powell predicted vaccines would be a must-have, telling the same publication, “If I’m against [the vaccine] then that means I should retire right now because I think it’s going to be mandatory like visas ... I’m not with it, but I don’t think I have a choice but to get it.”

Blake did send thoughts to Covid-19-struck India during the height of its pandemic, urging people to keep safe in the nation he adored for its cricket affiliation. “I am begging everyone to please do what you can to stay safe. I know it may be difficult but imagine if we work together. I have grown to love the country so much after watching cricket over the years. Wonderful people all round,” he tweeted.

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