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.

91裸聊视频淲hen I read that he was actually from Jamaica, I was like 91裸聊视频楳an, I wanna do that one day,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� said Blake. 91裸聊视频淢ove to Canada or something like that and go run for Canada.91裸聊视频�

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 men91裸聊视频檚 4x100m relay, alongside Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown and Brendon Rodney.

91裸聊视频淛ust to see that come to fruition 91裸聊视频� I feel like I91裸聊视频檝e come full circle. It91裸聊视频檚 been quite the journey so far,91裸聊视频� 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 201791裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淵ou get lots of love, lots of support from the country,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 amazing to see all the support you get from Canada and everyone who watches track and field. It was pretty amazing for me.91裸聊视频�

2016 I was watching the Olympics on tv, 2021 I91裸聊视频檓 packing for the Olympics.

91裸聊视频� Jerome Blake (@JeromeBlake11)

Winning an Olympic bronze medal on Aug. 6, he said, 91裸聊视频渄idn91裸聊视频檛 feel real.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淏ut once I got it, I was just looking at it. Like I91裸聊视频檓 finally an Olympic medalist,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檙e so focused on just sports, and that91裸聊视频檚 it. That91裸聊视频檚 where all your focus was,91裸聊视频� he said.

While some athletes filled the stadium91裸聊视频檚 seats, competing in a venue without spectators felt like training for Blake, which helped ease the pressure.

91裸聊视频淏ecause at training, there91裸聊视频檚 nobody there watching you. It91裸聊视频檚 just you, your coach and maybe your teammates,91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� he went straight back to work, this time in Clermont, Fla., where he91裸聊视频檚 training for some track meets in Switzerland.

In terms of how he plans to celebrate his Olympic victory, he said he hasn91裸聊视频檛 thought that far ahead.

91裸聊视频淏ut I feel like I91裸聊视频檓 gonna do something cool,91裸聊视频� he said.

Setting a goal and achieving his dream is how he said he91裸聊视频檒l remember his experience in Tokyo. His advice for young athletes aspiring to compete in the Olympics someday? 91裸聊视频淏et on yourself, always,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淣o dream is too far-fetched. No goal is never too big,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淜eep dreaming, stay positive and just keep working. You can achieve anything you set your mind to.91裸聊视频�

READ MORE: Recapping Tokyo 2020: Canada91裸聊视频檚 medal count hits 24

aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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