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.
害羞草研究所淲hen I read that he was actually from Jamaica, I was like 害羞草研究所楳an, I wanna do that one day,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 said Blake. 害羞草研究所淢ove to Canada or something like that and go run for Canada.害羞草研究所�
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害羞草研究所檚 4x100m relay, alongside Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown and Brendon Rodney.
害羞草研究所淛ust to see that come to fruition 害羞草研究所� I feel like I害羞草研究所檝e come full circle. It害羞草研究所檚 been quite the journey so far,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淵ou get lots of love, lots of support from the country,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 amazing to see all the support you get from Canada and everyone who watches track and field. It was pretty amazing for me.害羞草研究所�
2016 I was watching the Olympics on tv, 2021 I害羞草研究所檓 packing for the Olympics.
害羞草研究所� Jerome Blake (@JeromeBlake11)
Winning an Olympic bronze medal on Aug. 6, he said, 害羞草研究所渄idn害羞草研究所檛 feel real.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淏ut once I got it, I was just looking at it. Like I害羞草研究所檓 finally an Olympic medalist,害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e so focused on just sports, and that害羞草研究所檚 it. That害羞草研究所檚 where all your focus was,害羞草研究所� he said.
While some athletes filled the stadium害羞草研究所檚 seats, competing in a venue without spectators felt like training for Blake, which helped ease the pressure.
害羞草研究所淏ecause at training, there害羞草研究所檚 nobody there watching you. It害羞草研究所檚 just you, your coach and maybe your teammates,害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所� he went straight back to work, this time in Clermont, Fla., where he害羞草研究所檚 training for some track meets in Switzerland.
In terms of how he plans to celebrate his Olympic victory, he said he hasn害羞草研究所檛 thought that far ahead.
害羞草研究所淏ut I feel like I害羞草研究所檓 gonna do something cool,害羞草研究所� he said.
Setting a goal and achieving his dream is how he said he害羞草研究所檒l remember his experience in Tokyo. His advice for young athletes aspiring to compete in the Olympics someday? 害羞草研究所淏et on yourself, always,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淣o dream is too far-fetched. No goal is never too big,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淜eep dreaming, stay positive and just keep working. You can achieve anything you set your mind to.害羞草研究所�
READ MORE: Recapping Tokyo 2020: Canada害羞草研究所檚 medal count hits 24
aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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