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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.

   

• Ardenne High School launches second Optima 5K to fund Wellness Centre construction

  Ardenne High School has launched its second annual Optima 5K Run/Walk, a major fundraising initiative to support the construction of a wellness centre on the school’s campus. The event, scheduled for Saturday, November 16, at 6:30 am, will be managed by Running Events Limited for the first time, with registration available through runningeventsja.com.

  The 5K, organized by the Ardenne Alumni Foundation under the leadership of Chairperson Flo Darby, is the foundation’s largest fundraiser to date, with all proceeds going toward the wellness centre, which will be the first of its kind for a Jamaican high school. With a growing student population of over 2,000, Ardenne High sees the wellness centre as crucial for supporting both the physical and mental health of its students and staff.

  “We are planning to build a wellness centre for Ardenne High School, a space that focuses on physical and emotional health,” said Darby. “We’ll have a nurse on site, as well as rooms for guidance counsellors, a part-time psychiatrist, psychologist, and social worker. It will be the first of its kind in Jamaica, improving the environment for our students.”

  Current estimates place the cost of the wellness centre at J$64 million, with a targeted completion date before the school’s 100th anniversary in 2027.

  Two Olympians, 400m specialist and past Ardenne student Brandon Simpson and decathlete Maurice Smith, attended the event launch to endorse the initiative. Smith, whose siblings attended Ardenne, will also join Simpson at the start line on November 16, encouraging fellow athletes and supporters to participate in the cause.

  Alfred “Franno” Francis of Running Events Limited expressed his excitement for the project, noting the importance of fostering a healthy lifestyle. “We will try our best to execute a well-organized event, giving participants the support they need while raising funds for this exceptional cause,” he said. “This initiative is exemplary for other schools to follow, and we hope to see strong participation from current and past Ardenne students, along with anyone interested in health and wellness.”

  The route, as outlined by Francis, will start on Ardenne Road, then proceed through Trafalgar Park, onto Trafalgar Road, and follow a path along Lady Musgrave Road to Vale Royal. The course then turns onto Upper Montrose Road, onto Seymour Avenue, and returns to Ardenne Road, where participants will cross the finish line.

  Registration costs are J$2,000 for adults and J$1,500 for students, with proceeds directly benefiting the wellness centre.

  Terrence Ram, the head boy at Ardenne, emphasized the need for the centre, explaining that expanded facilities will provide students with a safe place to connect, relax, and engage with guidance staff. “The Ardenne Wellness Centre will give students a space to interact with guidance counsellors, share their thoughts, and develop personally,” Ram said.

  The launch was attended by several prominent supporters, including school principal Jacqueline Pinto, Ardenne Alumni Association President Dr. Winston De La Haye, alumni, foundation members, and representatives from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, including Takese Foga, Director of Health Promotion and Education.

  The Ardenne Optima 5K Run/Walk is poised to bring together students, alumni, and community members in a meaningful effort to foster a culture of wellness at Ardenne High School and build a lasting resource for future generations.

   

   

   

• 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.