When he was 15-years-old, Jerome Blake told himself he was going to compete in the Olympic Games someday.
The dream began in his home country of Jamaica when he was tasked with researching different athletes for a school project. He stumbled across Jamaican-Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey, who recorded a time of 9.84 seconds to win the gold medal for the 100-metre dash at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.
含羞草研究社淲hen I read that he was actually from Jamaica, I was like 含羞草研究社楳an, I wanna do that one day,含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫 said Blake. 含羞草研究社淢ove to Canada or something like that and go run for Canada.含羞草研究社�
Nearly 10 years later, Blake did just that. Representing Team Canada, he walked away from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with a bronze medal for the men含羞草研究社檚 4x100m relay, alongside Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown and Brendon Rodney.
含羞草研究社淛ust to see that come to fruition 含羞草研究社� I feel like I含羞草研究社檝e come full circle. It含羞草研究社檚 been quite the journey so far,含羞草研究社� said Blake.
Born in the Buff Bay settlement of Portland, Jamaica, Blake was a 400-metre hurdler, high and long jumper before he was a sprinter. In 2013, when he was 16, he relocated to Kelowna with his mother and brother. Upon moving to Canada, he switched to sprinting after coaches recognized his potential in the sport.
READ MORE: Okanagan athletes, coach headed to Tokyo Olympics
He competed in 2017含羞草研究社檚 RBC Training Ground in Kamloops and was chosen as one of 30 young athletes to be funded by the program. In 2018, Blake received his Canadian citizenship and made his international debut for Canada that same year at the NACAC Championships in Toronto, winning gold in the 4x100m relay.
But for Blake, to have had the opportunity to represent Canada on the international stage at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was a feeling like none other.
含羞草研究社淵ou get lots of love, lots of support from the country,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 amazing to see all the support you get from Canada and everyone who watches track and field. It was pretty amazing for me.含羞草研究社�
2016 I was watching the Olympics on tv, 2021 I含羞草研究社檓 packing for the Olympics.
含羞草研究社� Jerome Blake (@JeromeBlake11)
Winning an Olympic bronze medal on Aug. 6, he said, 含羞草研究社渄idn含羞草研究社檛 feel real.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淏ut once I got it, I was just looking at it. Like I含羞草研究社檓 finally an Olympic medalist,含羞草研究社� he said.
Despite competing in the midst of a global pandemic, he said that the experience was everything he expected and more. Having to take extra precautionary measures to avoid contracting COVID-19 allowed him to zero in on his performance.
含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檙e so focused on just sports, and that含羞草研究社檚 it. That含羞草研究社檚 where all your focus was,含羞草研究社� he said.
While some athletes filled the stadium含羞草研究社檚 seats, competing in a venue without spectators felt like training for Blake, which helped ease the pressure.
含羞草研究社淏ecause at training, there含羞草研究社檚 nobody there watching you. It含羞草研究社檚 just you, your coach and maybe your teammates,含羞草研究社� he said.
Three days after winning bronze, Blake was on a plane out of Tokyo. But there are no days off for the 26-year-old 含羞草研究社� he went straight back to work, this time in Clermont, Fla., where he含羞草研究社檚 training for some track meets in Switzerland.
In terms of how he plans to celebrate his Olympic victory, he said he hasn含羞草研究社檛 thought that far ahead.
含羞草研究社淏ut I feel like I含羞草研究社檓 gonna do something cool,含羞草研究社� he said.
Setting a goal and achieving his dream is how he said he含羞草研究社檒l remember his experience in Tokyo. His advice for young athletes aspiring to compete in the Olympics someday? 含羞草研究社淏et on yourself, always,含羞草研究社� he said.
含羞草研究社淣o dream is too far-fetched. No goal is never too big,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淜eep dreaming, stay positive and just keep working. You can achieve anything you set your mind to.含羞草研究社�
READ MORE: Recapping Tokyo 2020: Canada含羞草研究社檚 medal count hits 24
aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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