Running for a greater cause

World champion, Olympic medallist, and a key part of Jamaica’s sprinting legacy – Yohan Blake’s accomplishments in athletics are well-documented. But in recent years, it’s his YB Afraid Foundation that has brought the most emotion to his voice – and often, tears to his eyes.

The second-fastest man in history, he will be awarded the Order of Distinction, Commander Class, on National Heroes Day, in recognition not only of his achievements on the track but also for his deep humanitarian commitment to Jamaica’s most vulnerable.

Born in poverty, the St James native and St Jago High alumnus knows what it’s like to go to bed hungry, or to be sleep-deprived because there’s no bed to rest, or to live in places not even fit for animals. That’s why he’s made it his mission to change the lives of children in similar situations.

His foundation has formally adopted several children’s homes in Jamaica, including Mount Olivet Boys’ Home in Manchester, the Pringle Home in St Mary, and the Garland Hall Memorial Children’s Home in Anchovy, St James. These homes cater to over 50 children and he plans to adopt an additional four homes.

“For me, it’s very emotional,” Blake told The Sunday Gleaner at his St Andrew office last Friday. “Some of these children, they don’t know anything, you know. Some of them are seeing even street lights for the first time, some experience domestic violence, some of them raped, very much abused – even through COVID – raped at home. These are the situations that the public don’t see or don’t know and that’s what we are dealing with.”

And so, he said, the goal, is to create a space where they can learn a skill, travel, build a future, “partnering with Richard Mille (one of his sponsors) ... just to get them hands-on with a career”.

The foundation also partners with Food For The Poor to build at least 10 homes every year, providing safe, dignified housing to families in need.

ATHLETIC HIGHS AND LOWS

Blake’s career has been a story of greatness and grit. In 2011, he became the World champion in the 100m. A year later, he set personal bests of 9.69 seconds in the 100m and 19.26 seconds in the 200m – times only his training partner, Usain Bolt, has bettered.

But injuries in 2013 and 2014 nearly ended it all.

He recovered from the 2013 injury enough to help Jamaica break the 4x200 metre world record at the World Relays, recording 19 seconds flat – one of the fastest times on a 200m leg.

But there was more pain in 2014 as at the Diamond League meet in Glasgow, disaster struck.

“I was feeling good, went to Glasgow. It was really cold, training went well, and I was ready for the race,” he recalled. “Halfway in the race, I feel my muscle freeze and pop. I had to stop myself in the race, threw myself on my back because if I didn’t stop it would be worse. ... I felt the muscle hanging inside my body.”

Surgery in Germany followed, but returning to peak form proved elusive.

“I came back and I could not find myself running fast and Coach Mills said to me, ‘Yohan, to be honest, if you going to keep on doing this, it’s better you stop,” he said, referencing Glen Mills, head coach at Racers Track Club. “I went away into the hills for two weeks and I cried.”

Blake felt alone, but relied on his closest friends, who reminded him of who he was – the second-fastest man on the planet.

“I said I was not going to talk to no psychiatrist ... . They don’t know what I am feeling. I can say anything to them, but when I go back inside, it’s me and my demons,” he reasoned. “So I sat in front of the mirror and I talked to myself and I said, ‘Yo, you gonna sit here [and] wallow in your spit? You gonna sit here and wallow in your tears?’

“I had to get up, and that’s how I lifted myself up and try to be my own psychologist, try to get into my own head ... . I listened to LeBron, I listened to Tiger Woods, who had plenty people, [but] I had to [face] myself.”

LIFE AFTER RACERS

In early 2019, Blake left Racers Track Club and longtime coach Glen Mills. Some fans saw it as controversial – especially after Blake commented that his career had been overshadowed by Bolt. He said that the comment was misunderstood and resulted in a strained relationship with his longtime training partner.

“I think me and Coach Mills are good. I wouldn’t say I left under comfortable terms, [but] we managed to overcome [that] ... because he has shaped me into an athlete the world looks up to,” Blake told The Sunday Gleaner.

“Me and Usain have been training for almost 10 years and I would say the relationship is not where I want it to be, but, you know, hopefully in the future, I will just probably be the bigger person and just step to him and say, ‘What’s going on?’, because you know we have accomplished so much and we have been through so much – training, vomiting, .... laughing and just some silly things.”

Injuries continued to dog Blake, and he failed to make Jamaica’s team for the 2025 Tokyo World Championships, but he has not made a final decision about the end of his career.

“Definitely, I am in limbo. There are a lot of things on my mind I’m trying to put together before I really do that, but currently, I am not training, but I am still thinking. [I’m] not sure what I want to do because to just stop is hard, so I am in limbo, but I am not training [now] for track and field.”

THE BUSINESS OF BLAKE

Blake is building a post-athletics life as a businessman and has several business interests locally as well as a restaurant in Florida, but he is venturing even further afield.

“My major one right now is in China – my sporting athletics facility that I am working on because the people show me real love there and they support me. Not saying Jamaica doesn’t, but they support me there, so I’m doing that there. I also have some other businesses in the works, but based on contracts, I cannot disclose right now.”

He encourages fellow athletes to explore business – but with caution.

“Know what you’re getting into first. For me, I do not like to get into business with other people if I can do it myself or probably [with just] one person I know that I can trust really well. My business is me alone and my manager, Timothy Spence, but apart from that, no one else because I do not trust that easily. I don’t go anywhere. I stay at home all the time.

“If you want to do something, take your time, plan it out, and don’t [worry] if you don’t have the experience. Learn to fail; learn through failure,” he advised.

THE MOTIVATION THAT DROVE HIM

Growing up in a household of 10, Blake felt the weight of responsibility early on.

“When you’re from a family that is suffering and you want to be that breadwinner, it’s not easy when your mother’s calling you and you don’t have it, and you see that you have a talent that can [be] harnessed and make you into a person. Thank God that I was able to do that, so what I had to do was lock in. [It was] 10 of us and I had to be that person to stand out,” Blake said.

That motivation became a shield – and a purpose.

“I would say, ‘God, give me that [gift]’ because my mother and father come under so much illness, and if it wasn’t for what I have achieved and for who I know, I think – God forbid! Yes, my father passed away, but I think all of them would have died already, so thank God I was able to do certain things.”

NATIONAL HONOUR AT LAST

Now, after two decades of national service through sport and charity, Blake’s contributions are finally being formally recognised.

Some fans wonder why it took so long.

For Blake, the recognition is long overdue – but welcome.

“I built a home in Mandeville and I didn’t want anything from the Government. Out of love and passion for kids and their suffering, we did that, and that was overlooked because what? We didn’t call the Government to cut a ribbon?” he said.

“To be honest, it’s been a long time coming and it’s been a long time working and [putting] in the work,” he told The Sunday Gleaner. “ ... If it wasn’t for people with their mouths shouting, ‘How come Yohan didn’t get this? How come Yohan didn’t get that?’ You know, I wouldn’t be looked at. But I am happy. I am grateful that they finally decided to award me, and I accept it with great pleasure.”

karen.madden@gleanerjm.com