When he was 15-years-old, Jerome Blake told himself he was going to compete in the Olympic Games someday.

The dream began in his home country of Jamaica when he was tasked with researching different athletes for a school project. He stumbled across Jamaican-Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey, who recorded a time of 9.84 seconds to win the gold medal for the 100-metre dash at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.

鈥淲hen I read that he was actually from Jamaica, I was like 鈥楳an, I wanna do that one day,鈥欌�� said Blake. 鈥淢ove to Canada or something like that and go run for Canada.鈥�

Nearly 10 years later, Blake did just that. Representing Team Canada, he walked away from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with a bronze medal for the men鈥檚 4x100m relay, alongside Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown and Brendon Rodney.

鈥淛ust to see that come to fruition 鈥� I feel like I鈥檝e come full circle. It鈥檚 been quite the journey so far,鈥� said Blake.

Born in the Buff Bay settlement of Portland, Jamaica, Blake was a 400-metre hurdler, high and long jumper before he was a sprinter. In 2013, when he was 16, he relocated to 琉璃神社 with his mother and brother. Upon moving to Canada, he switched to sprinting after coaches recognized his potential in the sport.

READ MORE: Okanagan athletes, coach headed to Tokyo Olympics

He competed in 2017鈥檚 RBC Training Ground in Kamloops and was chosen as one of 30 young athletes to be funded by the program. In 2018, Blake received his Canadian citizenship and made his international debut for Canada that same year at the NACAC Championships in Toronto, winning gold in the 4x100m relay.

But for Blake, to have had the opportunity to represent Canada on the international stage at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was a feeling like none other.

鈥淵ou get lots of love, lots of support from the country,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to see all the support you get from Canada and everyone who watches track and field. It was pretty amazing for me.鈥�

2016 I was watching the Olympics on tv, 2021 I鈥檓 packing for the Olympics.

鈥� Jerome Blake (@JeromeBlake11)

Winning an Olympic bronze medal on Aug. 6, he said, 鈥渄idn鈥檛 feel real.鈥�

鈥淏ut once I got it, I was just looking at it. Like I鈥檓 finally an Olympic medalist,鈥� he said.

Despite competing in the midst of a global pandemic, he said that the experience was everything he expected and more. Having to take extra precautionary measures to avoid contracting COVID-19 allowed him to zero in on his performance.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e so focused on just sports, and that鈥檚 it. That鈥檚 where all your focus was,鈥� he said.

While some athletes filled the stadium鈥檚 seats, competing in a venue without spectators felt like training for Blake, which helped ease the pressure.

鈥淏ecause at training, there鈥檚 nobody there watching you. It鈥檚 just you, your coach and maybe your teammates,鈥� he said.

Three days after winning bronze, Blake was on a plane out of Tokyo. But there are no days off for the 26-year-old 鈥� he went straight back to work, this time in Clermont, Fla., where he鈥檚 training for some track meets in Switzerland.

In terms of how he plans to celebrate his Olympic victory, he said he hasn鈥檛 thought that far ahead.

鈥淏ut I feel like I鈥檓 gonna do something cool,鈥� he said.

Setting a goal and achieving his dream is how he said he鈥檒l remember his experience in Tokyo. His advice for young athletes aspiring to compete in the Olympics someday? 鈥淏et on yourself, always,鈥� he said.

鈥淣o dream is too far-fetched. No goal is never too big,鈥� he said. 鈥淜eep dreaming, stay positive and just keep working. You can achieve anything you set your mind to.鈥�

READ MORE: Recapping Tokyo 2020: Canada鈥檚 medal count hits 24

aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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