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.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I read that he was actually from Jamaica, I was like 香蕉视频直播楳an, I wanna do that one day,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� said Blake. 香蕉视频直播淢ove to Canada or something like that and go run for Canada.香蕉视频直播�

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香蕉视频直播檚 4x100m relay, alongside Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown and Brendon Rodney.

香蕉视频直播淛ust to see that come to fruition 香蕉视频直播� I feel like I香蕉视频直播檝e come full circle. It香蕉视频直播檚 been quite the journey so far,香蕉视频直播� 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 Kelowna 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香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淵ou get lots of love, lots of support from the country,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 amazing to see all the support you get from Canada and everyone who watches track and field. It was pretty amazing for me.香蕉视频直播�

2016 I was watching the Olympics on tv, 2021 I香蕉视频直播檓 packing for the Olympics.

香蕉视频直播� Jerome Blake (@JeromeBlake11)

Winning an Olympic bronze medal on Aug. 6, he said, 香蕉视频直播渄idn香蕉视频直播檛 feel real.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淏ut once I got it, I was just looking at it. Like I香蕉视频直播檓 finally an Olympic medalist,香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檙e so focused on just sports, and that香蕉视频直播檚 it. That香蕉视频直播檚 where all your focus was,香蕉视频直播� he said.

While some athletes filled the stadium香蕉视频直播檚 seats, competing in a venue without spectators felt like training for Blake, which helped ease the pressure.

香蕉视频直播淏ecause at training, there香蕉视频直播檚 nobody there watching you. It香蕉视频直播檚 just you, your coach and maybe your teammates,香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播� he went straight back to work, this time in Clermont, Fla., where he香蕉视频直播檚 training for some track meets in Switzerland.

In terms of how he plans to celebrate his Olympic victory, he said he hasn香蕉视频直播檛 thought that far ahead.

香蕉视频直播淏ut I feel like I香蕉视频直播檓 gonna do something cool,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Setting a goal and achieving his dream is how he said he香蕉视频直播檒l remember his experience in Tokyo. His advice for young athletes aspiring to compete in the Olympics someday? 香蕉视频直播淏et on yourself, always,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淣o dream is too far-fetched. No goal is never too big,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淜eep dreaming, stay positive and just keep working. You can achieve anything you set your mind to.香蕉视频直播�

READ MORE: Recapping Tokyo 2020: Canada香蕉视频直播檚 medal count hits 24

aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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