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Veteran Jamaican star Yohan Blake has declared himself the best 200m runner ever, reflecting on career regrets and missed opportunities.
Former world champion Yohan Blake has boldly declared himself as "arguably" the greatest 200 meters runner in history.
The 33-year-old Jamaican sprinter, known for his explosive speed and fierce competitiveness, reflected on his stellar career during a recent appearance on the Good Morning Jojo sports show in Antigua.
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Blake, a two-time Olympic silver medalist and World Championships gold medalist, said that while his career has been defined by his remarkable achievements in the 100 meters, he believes his true potential in the 200 meters went untapped.
The sprinter revealed that he regrets not competing in more 200 meters races, a decision he attributes to the guidance of his long-time coach, Glen Mills.
"Arguably, I am the best 200 meters runner ever, I think, arguably," Blake remarked.
"I just know that Mr [Glen] Mills knew that I could have gone further, so I’ll just leave it at that because I know he has his reasons and it worked out for me to run the 9.69."
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Yohan Blake's legacy in sprinting is already well established. In 2011, he became the youngest 100 meters world champion in history at just 21 years and 245 days.
The following year, Blake cemented his place as one of the fastest men in history by winning two silver medals in the 100 meters and 200 meters at the London 2012 Olympics, finishing behind his legendary countryman Usain Bolt in both races.
Despite his incredible achievements in the 100 meters, Blake believes he could have dominated the 200 meters as well, had he been given more opportunities to focus on the event.
His personal best of 19.26 seconds in the 200 meters remains the second-fastest time ever, trailing only Bolt's world record of 19.19 seconds.
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Blake also expressed some regret over a personal decision in 2016, when he opted to drop the nickname "The Beast," a moniker bestowed upon him by Bolt.
"Usain Bolt gave me that name for a reason because in training I was so dominant," Blake explained.
"In 2008 when Usain Bolt broke that [100 meters] World Record, I was training with him and I pushed him to another level and he called me The Beast for a reason, but listening to too much people, I dropped The Beast, but The Beast never left me."
The nickname had become synonymous with Blake’s relentless work ethic and ferocity on the track, but the sprinter felt the pressure from those around him to shed that image.
Despite this, Blake remains one of the most respected figures in the sport, his legacy etched in history as the second-fastest man in both the 100 meters (9.69 seconds) and the 200 meters (19.26 seconds).
Now in the twilight of his career Blake remains a formidable presence on the track.
He recently trained at Antigua’s YASCO Sports Complex during a visit to the island inspiring local athletes and reminding the world of his enduring talent.
Reflecting on his journey, Blake remains confident in his place among the all-time greats.
Though many may continue to debate his claim as the greatest 200 meters runner ever there’s no denying the impact Blake has had on sprinting.
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