"My own country Jamaica doesn't give me the respect" - Yohan Blake lashes out at countrymen for lack of support amid a tough season

Yohan Blake has claimed that his home nation, Jamaica, doesn't give him the respect he deserves. The 34-year-old has been battling injuries throughout the season and didn't qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024, which would have been his fourth appearance at the Games.

Blake is the second-fastest sprinter of all time and one of the few who challenged Usain Bolt in his prime. He clocked a blistering 19.26s over the 200m in 2011 and was just seven-hundredth of a second behind Bolt's world record of 19.19s.

A year later, Blake clocked 9.69s over the 100m, making him the second-fastest sprinter over the 100m distance as well. However, the Jamaican couldn't win any individual Olympic gold medals in his career, finishing behind Bolt for silver in both 100m and 200m at the London Olympics, which was his peak season.

Yohan Blake was eying to make his fourth Olympic team at the Jamaican Olympic Trials last month but couldn't advance to the finals. The 34-year-old competed at the London Diamond League meet on July 20, but again had a disappointing performance finishing last in 10.23s.

In an interview after the race, Blake spoke about his injury-marred 2024 season, and the lack of respect he felt from Jamaicans.

“My head is all over the place right now because what I wanted to do at Jamaican Trials I didn't get to do. I did want to run my final Olympics. I didn't get to but the journey continues same way. Definitely it would be my final Olympics.

You know as I said, my own country Jamaica doesn't give me the respect and I'm happy they don't because other people outside do and they appreciate me more than my own country," he expressed.

Blake added:

“Jamaica loves winners and once you don't win they are not supporting you but I don't need their support. I have my own support staff, my own support team.”

Yohan Blake vs Usain Bolt head-to-head record

Rio Olympics 2016-Yohan Blake (L) and Usain Boly (R) (Photo-Getty)

Yohan Blake and Usain Bolt were training partners, and it was also one of the reasons that kept them pushing to be better and better. The two only faced each other twice over the 200m, first at the 2012 Jamaican Championships and later at the London Olympics. The all-Jamaican battle was won by Blake while Bolt reigned supreme at the Olympic Games.

Over the 100m, the two faced eight times and Blake defeated Bolt twice, although the eight-time Olympic champion was disqualified in one of those two races. Blake handed Bolt his first major defeat over the 100m at the 2012 Jamaica Championships but couldn't get the better of his teammate in any of their next clashes.