Sprint legend Yohan Blake is preparing to leave track and field for a shocking new challenge.
World’s second-fastest man Yohan Blake has spent years blazing down the track carving out his place in sprinting history.
But as his illustrious athletics career nears its end, the former Olympic champion is eager to switch lanes—this time, to professional cricket.
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Blake, who won two Olympic gold medals in the 4x100m relay alongside Usain Bolt and finished second in both the 100m and 200m finals at London 2012, has long harbored ambitions beyond sprinting.
“My own country Jamaica doesn’t give me the respect,” Blake revealed after a Diamond League event in July 2024.
“But I’m happy they don’t because other people outside do, and they appreciate me more than my own country. I’m happy that I’m able to be crowned elsewhere apart from Jamaica, so I’m looking to continue to do what I’m doing until I’m happy to step away when it’s time.”
Blake’s journey to the sprinting elite began on the cricket field. While attending St. Jago High School in Jamaica, he was a promising fast bowler with aspirations of playing for the West Indies.
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However, his school teacher noticed his blistering speed while charging in to bowl and suggested he try sprinting. That advice set Blake on the path to becoming the second-fastest man in history, with personal bests of 9.69 seconds in the 100m and 19.26 seconds in the 200m—times that would have won Olympic gold in almost any other era.
Despite his achievements on the track, Blake has never let go of his passion for cricket. During athletics off-seasons, he regularly played for Kingston Cricket Club, even setting a club bowling record with figures of four wickets for 10 runs.
In 2019, he teased a potential switch to the Indian Premier League (IPL) as quoted by Talk Sport.
“I would love to feature in franchise cricket, I would even love to own a franchise in India. And most importantly, play for either Kolkata Knight Riders or the Royal Challengers Bangalore.”
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The 35-year-old’s love for the sport was on full display during the Covid lockdown, when he shared videos of himself practicing batting and bowling in his backyard.
Even as he continued his sprinting career, Blake has maintained that cricket remains part of his future plans.
“I have two more years left in track and field, and then it’s cricket for me,” he declared.
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Blake’s competitive edge and elite athleticism could make him a valuable asset in cricket, particularly as a fast bowler.
His ability to generate explosive speed and power, honed through years of sprint training, could translate well to the demands of high-level cricket.
