Paris Olympics: 4X Olympic Medalist to Give Team USA a Run for Their Money in His ‘Last Dance’

Since 1948, Jamaican athletes have turned heads at the Olympics, and even almost a century later, as the Paris Olympics 2024 is nearing, there’s no lie in it. Track and field has always been one of the most prized domains of Jamaica, and gleaning at the Olympic history, we can only spot winners and record holders. Among them, Usain Bolt stands on top with his 100m and 200m records. Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce and Veronica Campbell-Brown are two of the most celebratory names too.

While scrolling, another athlete’s name pops up now and then: A 4x champ of the same Jamaican ilk. The 100m and 200m specialist marked his territory at the youthful age of 21, at the 2011 World Athletics Championships. Since then, he has never failed to live up to his hard-earned 100m World Champ title. But a recently surfaced news hints at a retirement of the 34-year-old, also a serious challenge thrown at the US track stars.

Paris Olympics may be the career-end event of a track icon

The 2x Olympic medalist, who’s considered the fastest Jamaican man behind Bolt, let the US youngsters seal victories in the past season. But 2024, being the Olympic year, will not only see his comeback but also in a path-breaking way. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was an upset for Blake, which he didn’t foresee. Failing to make it to the final roster, the World champ then stated that his leg had posed a problem. But not anymore. He’s ready to give his all in, partaking in all the taxing categories, 100m, 200m, and relays. Aiming to become a tour de force, “Paris 2024 should be my last dance”, said the 17x gold medalist while hinting at his premature retirement.

On a mission to unfurl his victory flag for the last time in his track sojourn, Blake wants to segue to retirement happily. Though several years have passed since that historical day, his history-making moment on the World Championships stage still resonates. 

Good luck is always unforeseen

In Daegu, South Korea, Blake and Bolt stepped foot as compatriots, but with contentious hearts. Though Bolt was the top pick for the 100m dash, the young buck Blake snapped him out of his dreams. Following the former’s disqualification because of a false start, Blake clocked in at 9.92s to emerge as the youngest world champion in history.

READ MORE: Except Usain Bolt, This Jamaican Track and Field Star Was Arguably One of the World’s Fastest Sprinters

Always toe-to-toe with the US team, the one thing that the Jamaicans look to is breaking their own records. At the 2011 WC 4×100 relay, Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Bolt and Blake had broken the record previously set by the Jamaican team at the Beijing Olympics. But the most interesting thing is, US track stars like Noah Lyles and Erriyon Knighton are in no mood to calm the battle down.

Watch this story: Ahead of US World Championships, Olympic Medalist Athlete Condemns USATF’s Latest Media Restrictions