Blake the Beast vows to roar again

LONDON (AFP) –

Jamaica’s Yohan Blake gestures prior to his men’s 100m final at the London Olympics on August 5. He was unable to usurp training partner and compatriot Usain Bolt in an electrifying men’s Olympic 100m, but vowed to roar again, possibly in three more events.

Yohan Blake was unable to usurp training partner and compatriot Usain Bolt in an electrifying men’s Olympic 100m, but vowed to roar again, possibly in three more events.

Blake claimed the world 100m crown when Bolt was sensationally disqualified for a false start in Daegu, South Korea, last year.

And he had been widely tipped to top the world’s fastest man at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday after he trumped Bolt in both the 100 and 200m at last month’s Jamaican trials.

But the 22-year-old could only claim silver in 9.75sec behind Bolt, who won in an Olympic record of 9.63sec, the second fastest time in history. American 2004 Olympic gold medallist Justin Gatlin took bronze in 9.79sec.

“Usain has been to this level and he knows what it takes, he’s a world beater and he’s fastest man in the world,” said Blake.

“I have to give a lot of thanks, it’s my first Olympics and I get a silver medal. What more can I ask for? To be the second fastest man in the world behind Bolt is an honour.

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (R) celebrate with Yohan Blake after winning the Olympics men’s 100m final on August 5. Blake has long lurked in the shadows cast by teammates Bolt and Asafa Powell, but roared to prominence as the potential successor to Bolt after his performances at the trials.

“I’m still young, I’m 22, and to get the silver medal I’m really proud. I’m not disappointed. Sometimes you win, you lose.”

Blake, who received a three-month ban in 2009 for taking a drug that had a similar chemical structure to the banned tuaminoheptane, said that his Olympic adventure was far from over.

“No, it’s not mission over,” he said. “I have the 200m, 4x100m and maybe 4x400m.

“We have the 200m coming up. I think it’s going to be an interesting one.”

Blake has long lurked in the shadows cast by teammates Bolt and Asafa Powell, but roared to prominence as the potential successor to the illustrious Bolt after his performances at the trials.

Blake, standing 1.80m (5ft 11in) and weighing 80kg, is a complete physical contrast to the towering Bolt and is nicknamed “The Beast” for appetite for work at training.

But by matching his personal best of 9.75sec in the 100m, Blake reconfirmed his status as the fourth fastest sprinter of all time after Bolt, American Tyson Gay and Powell.

His personal best of 19.26sec in the 200m is the second fastest ever after Bolt and his 19.80sec in the trials is currently the world lead.

A worthy, potential successor has been truly unearthed, coached at the Racers Track Club in Kingston by Glen Mills, the same man who has overseen Bolt’s transformation into one of global sport’s most marketable names.