Olympian, Yohan Blake to be conferred with Order of Distinction

Olympian Yohan Blake will be formally recognised by the Government of Jamaica for his outstanding contributions to track and field and his unwavering commitment to charitable outreach.

He will be conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD) during the National Investiture Ceremony at King's House on National Heroes Day, Monday, October 20.

The announcement has been met with humility by Blake, the second-fastest male sprinter of all time.

"Thank you to the Government of Jamaica for this prestigious award, it really means a lot," he states.

Blake, who commenced his professional career in 2009, is a double Olympic gold medallist, double Olympic silver medallist, and two-time World Championship gold medallist.

He held the Jamaican national junior record for the 100 metres for seven years, and is among only three sprinters globally to have broken the 10-second barrier before turning 20. He achieved this milestone at 19 years and 196 days old.

With a distinguished career marked by achievements too numerous to catalogue, Blake has indelibly etched his name in the annals of global track and field history, standing among the sport's most revered figures.

Before rising to global prominence as a world-class sprinter known as 'The Beast', Blake first pursued his athletic passion on the cricket pitch.

Ironically, despite his global success in athletics, he maintains that cricket has always been his first love.

The sprinter fondly recalls playing the sport at Green Park Primary and Junior High School where Principal, O'Neil Ankle, first recognised his potential for track and field.

"Ankle saw me running up to bowl and said, 'I need to send that guy to St. Jago [High School] to [track and field coach] Danny Hawthorne'. So he transferred me to St. Jago, and Danny Hawthorne changed my life and got me into track and field," Mr. Blake shares.

The athlete recalls experimenting with a range of disciplines, including the 400-metre sprint and hurdles, before ultimately specialisng in the 100 and 200-metre sprints.

He focused his training on the 100 and 200-metre sprints, achieving notable success at the junior level, which led to his recruitment by Head Coach of the Racers Track Club, Glen Mills.

In recognition of his unwavering commitment and intensity during training, Blake was given the moniker The Beast by his training partner and fellow Olympian, Usain Bolt.

Blake later dropped the nickname due to negative connotations ascribed to it by members of the Christian faith, but he has since reclaimed the title.

"Because I know within myself what the persona means to me... I still go by The Beast. People do call me that the same way... around the world," he tells JIS News.

In addition to his exploits on the track, Mr. Blake leads the YB Afraid Foundation, through which he has officially adopted three children's homes - Mount Olivet Boys' Home in Manchester, Pringle Home in St. Mary, and the Jamaica Baptist Union Garland Hall Memorial Children's Home in Anchovy, St. James.

He tells JIS News that he believes in nurturing the future and supporting the dreams of the next generation, pointing out that his Foundation provides an avenue to do so.

Through the organisation, the athlete has upgraded the facilities of the children's homes he has adopted, funded education and training for students, and even taken wards from these facilities on a trip to France.

The sprinter's philanthropy, while made possible by his breakthrough success as the youngest 100-metre World Champion in 2011, is largely inspired by the circumstances of his own upbringing.

Mr. Blake shares that he comes from a place where food was at times scarce, recalling that "sometimes we didn't even go to school, because we needed that money to cook some food".

While these were undoubtedly difficult times for him, the athlete credits those formative years with shaping him into the humble and kind person he is today.

"If I should live that life again, I would, because it shaped me into the person that I am. There's a grey cloud over [a lot of] people's heads, and I'm a person who shines light," he maintains.

For young people facing similar challenges, the athlete urges them to dream big and not limit themselves based on their current circumstances.

"I put my cup where I cannot reach it because, in life, we do grow and one day you are actually going to reach it. If you want to be somebody... if you want to go somewhere, you have to wake up and pay attention. Your life is in your hands. Your parents did what they could and, yes, you are probably not where you want to be in life. But if we keep on planting and planting, the crop will come," Mr. Blake encourages.

He adds, "if you believe you can fly, then fly... that is how powerful the mind is; that is why you can create anything that you put your mind to, or your heart to. So do not be afraid to take up that challenge; do not be afraid to make that step."

The athlete points to his own success as a testament to what hard work and self-belief can achieve.

As he looks to life after athletics, Blake shares that he is optimistic about what the future holds beyond track and field.

"I am just excited about what is next... starting a family, doing more charity work around the world, not just in Jamaica. So that is what's in the pipeline... perhaps do a little bit of commentary on cricket, because I have always wanted to do that," he tells JIS News.

- JIS

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