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• “I went to the hills and cried for two weeks after that”- Blake reflects on dark days after devastating hamstring injury in 2014

  Most track and field athletes would have quit the sport years ago if they had gone through the injury struggles endured by Yohan Blake.

  The youngest World 100m champion in history had the prime of his career significantly affected by a number of injuries, none more devastating than a torn hamstring he sustained at the Glasgow Grand Prix in 2014.

  Blake felt a sharp pain during the 100m race that was initially diagnosed as a cramp but, upon further evaluation, was determined to be a hamstring tear so bad that his muscle actually came off the bone.

  Blake had to have surgery where they re-attached the muscle to the bone using aluminum, causing him to miss the rest of the 2014 season.

  During the most recent episode of Out D Blocks on the Sportsmax.tv YouTube Channel, the 2012 double Olympic silver medallist reflected on his immediate reaction to the injury.

  “When that happened to me, I went into the hills for two weeks. No one knew where I was and I cried,” Blake said, noting that he naturally had doubts about every returning to his old form.

  So how did he get out of this funk and decide to move forward? Self-affirmation is how.

  “I finally talked to God and said listen, you are the second fastest man on the planet. What are you doing?”

  “I talked to Brigitte (Foster-Hylton) because she had the same injury and came back and won the World Championships. I talked to my manager and my team and came back and started to do little training and felt more confident,” Blake added.

  Fast forward 10 years later, Blake, now 34, just had a season to forget on the track by his standards.

  He had a 100m season’s best of 10.16 done in May and failed to make Jamaica’s team to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

  Nagging injuries was the main contributor to his lack of success last season according to Blake, with even the injury suffered back in 2014 still affecting him to this day.

  “I still struggle with a lot of injuries,” he said.

  “Last year, I tried to change up my routine being more specific in my lifting and my running and I got some aches and pains, even from my previous injury when my muscle came off my bone and they had to re-attach it with aluminum so it’s a bit rigid. It bothers me a lot,” he added.

  In a lot of situations with athletes who suffer major injuries, they are able to put out full effort in training but once they get into the competition, a metal block affects their performance due to a fear of getting hurt again.

  Blake says this has also affected him since the injuries.

  “It has. Training with Glen Mills, before I left, he said to me ‘Yohan, if you’re going out there with that mindset, it’s better you stop,’” he said.

  “From that, I changed my routine. You’re still going to pick up niggles along the way and the wear and tear of the body. Usain said ‘Yohan, when you reach a certain age you’re going to feel this.’ A lot of times when I was training with Usain, he started to feel some pain and everything and he’d tell me I’d feel some of these pains and I shrugged it off because I was young and I finally understand what he meant,” he added.

  As previously stated, athletes who have suffered the injuries he’s suffered usually don’t last as long in the sport as he has.

  With all the injuries, Blake still holds the title of second fastest man to ever walk this earth.

  “Thank God for what I have achieved because not many persons in the world can say they have achieved what I have achieved,” he said.

  “There comes a point in time when you understand, even though you have people saying quit or stop, those are the things that drive me. You can’t tell me to quit. They can’t tell me to quit. They can say anything but they can’t make me quit. I have to make me quit,” he added.

   

• Yohan Blake launches official fan app following restaurant opening and honours in Fort Lauderdale

  Sprint legend Yohan Blake, the second fastest man in history, continues to expand his reach beyond the track with the launch of his official fan app. The announcement, made on social media, comes just days after Blake celebrated the grand opening of his Butcher's Barrel restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he was also awarded the Keys to the Region by city officials.

  Blake, known for his blistering personal bests of 9.69 seconds in the 100m and 19.26 seconds in the 200m, remains one of the most electrifying sprinters of all time. His 100m and 200m marks have only been surpassed by fellow Jamaican icon Usain Bolt. Blake, who claimed the 2011 World 100m title in Daegu, South Korea, holds the distinction of being the youngest man ever to win the event, adding to his legacy as one of track and field's greatest athletes.

  In his social media post, Blake shared his excitement about the new venture: "Hey guys! ? I’ve just launched my official fan app, available now on iOS and coming soon to Android! Stay connected with me for exclusive updates, content, and more." The app promises to give fans a unique look into the sprinter's life, offering exclusive content and direct engagement with Blake as he continues to build his brand both on and off the track.

  The announcement of the fan app follows the recent launch of his Butcher’s Barrel restaurant, where Blake’s entrepreneurial ambitions were on full display. The upscale dining establishment in Fort Lauderdale represents his latest business venture, and the honor of receiving the Keys to the Region highlights the profound impact Blake has had, not just in athletics but in his efforts to give back to the community.

  For fans and followers, the new app serves as a direct gateway to stay up to date with Blake’s future projects, behind-the-scenes moments, and personal updates. As he continues to explore new avenues in business and sport, the app provides a platform for his supporters to connect with him in a more personal and interactive way.

  Yohan Blake's launch of the fan app marks another milestone in a career that has spanned greatness on the track, a growing presence in business, and a commitment to leaving a lasting legacy.

• Yohan Blake honoured with Keys to the Region as he launches Butcher's Barrel Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale

  World-renowned Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake, the 2011 World 100m champion and double Olympic silver medalist, was awarded the prestigious Key to the Region on Wednesday, October 8, during the grand opening of his new restaurant, Butcher's Barrel, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Despite the looming threat of Hurricane Milton barreling toward the state, the event was a celebratory moment for Blake, who was honoured by city officials and members of South Florida’s Caribbean community for his outstanding contributions to both athletics and entrepreneurship.

  The recognition ceremony, led by Tamarac Commissioner Marlon D. Bolton, saw the 34-year-old Blake receive the Keys to the Region, joining an esteemed list of previous honourees, including dancehall artist Spice, TV personality Miss Kitty, and reggae artist Ky-Mani Marley. Vice Mayor Alexandra Davis of Miramar and other local officials from the Caribbean diaspora were present to celebrate Blake’s new venture and his achievements as an athlete.

  In an emotional speech, Blake expressed his deep gratitude, reflecting on his journey as one of the fastest men in history over the 100m and 200m distances.

  "This brings tears to my eyes to recognize this moment. I have worked 20-odd years tirelessly, creating so much history around the world being one of the fastest men in the 100 and 200 plus the 4x100m, it is not an easy feat," Blake said. "To do something like this, just a simple award to recognize what we have been doing—I just want to thank you for this. It means a lot to me, from the bottom of my heart."

  Blake’s illustrious career includes winning gold at the 2011 World Athletics Championships in the 100m, where he became the youngest 100m world champion ever, and earning silver medals in the 100m and 200m at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, behind the legendary Usain Bolt. His personal bests of 9.75 seconds in the 100m and 19.44 seconds in the 200m remain the fastest times ever recorded to place second in Olympic history.

  

  (Alexandra Davis Instagram)

  Miramar Vice Mayor Alexandra Davis and Jamaican Olympian Yohan Blake at the launch of his Butcher's Barrel restaurant in Ft Lauderdale on Tuesday.

  The Key to the Region initiative, developed in collaboration with Caribbean elected officials, honours individuals who have made significant contributions to the community through excellence in their respective fields. Blake, who has continuously supported charitable initiatives, particularly in Jamaica, now adds the entrepreneurial launch of Butcher’s Barrel to his list of achievements.

  The Butcher’s Barrel restaurant in Oakland Park, Fort Lauderdale, is Blake’s latest venture, as he looks to expand his brand beyond the track. The launch attracted local leaders, including Lauderhill Commissioner Denise D. Grant, Sunrise Commissioner Mark Douglas, and Vice Mayor Alexandra Davis, who shared her pride in the Jamaican sprinter on social media.

  "At the Butcher’s Barrel in Oakland Park as Yohan Blake opened his restaurant and received the Keys to the Region from local elected Caribbean officials," Davis wrote on Instagram. "Yohan is a Jamaican sprinter who won gold at the 2011 World Championships as the youngest 100m world champion ever, and silver in the 2012 Olympic Games. We wish him well in his new endeavor!"

  As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, Blake's success and recognition offer a bright moment of celebration and hope amid the challenging circumstances. His determination on and off the track continues to inspire many, and the opening of his restaurant marks a new chapter in his multifaceted career.

  Blake’s legacy as a sprinter is solidified, but with the Butcher's Barrel, he is proving that his ambitions go far beyond athletics, bringing his passion and dedication to new ventures in the business world.