15th September, 2012
Americans need to get used to Jamaica’s men dominating the global sprinting scene, because it will not change soon, Jamaican double Olympic silver medalist Yohan Blake said weekend.
U.S. men, who once ruled the sprints, have been overwhelmed by Jamaican speedsters at Olympic and world championships, since triple world record holder Usain Bolt’s stunning show at the 2008 Beijing Games; and the trend will continue, said the 22-year-old world 100 metres champion.
“I would say until the day that we all leave the earth,” the world’s second fastest runner at the 100 and 200 distances told a Kingston news conference.
“Because with the calibre of athletes we have right now, and given everything the athletes are doing and the JAAA (Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association) and the government.
“Taking everything into consideration and doing what is necessary, for the younger generation coming up with the wonderful talent at the (boys and girls high school) championships, and keeping the athletes back in Jamaica, with different training camps and all of that.”
He said Jamaica’s dominance has frustrated the Americans.
“We don’t really have a relationship,” Blake said. “We say ‘hi’ and ‘bye’, because they hated us, they totally hated us because of our exploits and because we can run and we can have fun and because of our dominance.”
The small Caribbean Island won the men’s and women’s 100 and 200 metres at the Beijing Games, with Bolt dashing to world records in both sprints, and the 4×100 metres relay.