Who Is the American Sprinter To Share ‘Fastest Time’ With Jamaican Rival Yohan Blake

In a thrilling development on the track, American sprinter Tyson Gay has matched strides with his Jamaican rival Yohan Blake, sharing the title for the fastest time in many sprints. As Yohan Blake is not an unknown figure in track and field, the fastest Jamaican runner of all time after Usain Bolt running behind him, winning silver medals in the 100m and 200m and teaming up with him in relays to win gold in 4*100 m relay.

This remarkable achievement has set the stage for an electrifying rivalry in the world of athletics, captivating fans worldwide. As Blake still embarks on his journey through winning and losing the ‘second fastest runner’ title that just doesn’t hold for him. There’s someone else too who ties with him in this title. Let’s delve deeper now and find out who that sprinter is.

Yohan Blake is not the only one to achieve ‘fastest time’

The St. James Parish native Yohan Blake of Spanish Town is the second-fastest runner in the world. But here, he’s not the only one to be the fastest runner apart from Usain Bolt, who tops him. There’s another sprinter who matches his speed, an American Sprinter Tyson Gay tied with Blake’s personal best of 9.69 seconds in 100m while holding the second-fastest 200m time of 19.26 seconds. Usain Bolt holds the world record for the fastest 100m sprint with a time of 9.58 seconds set in 2009. He also won a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics with a time of 9.63 seconds, and his teammate Yohan Blake won silver with a time of 9.75 seconds.

Bolt is the only person who has run faster than Blake in the 100m. Tyson debuted at the end of 2005, claiming his first major championship title. By 2006, he had broken the 10-second barrier in the 100 m. Gay went home in 9.85s to take the 100m title, and a new championship record of 19.76s helped him beat Usain Bolt in the 200m.

The cherry on the cake was a gold medal in the 4x100m relay final. Due to his injuries, he dropped out from the Beijing Olympics and returned stronger in 2009 at 9.75s to win the U.S. Championship. In 2010 he left the world awestruck with a dead win against Bolt in 9.84 seconds. With Tyson, Blake continued to shine with his achievements and earned the nickname “The Beast” for his formidable speed and power on the track. 

What are the major achievements of the Diamond League athlete?

Blake, who had run at a speed of 9.69 seconds to win the men’s 100m race at the Diamond League meet at Lausanne, shaved 6-100ths of his personal beat and was the fastest ever in the Lausanne track. At that match, Tyson was runner-up in the 100m. But Tyson Gay had earned the Diamond League Trophy as the season’s top performer in the 100 meters, finishing in 9.79 seconds to beat Jamaican Nesta Carter. 

Gay was slow at the blocks and had difficulty coping with Carter, whose 9.85 is his personal best where another Jamaican sprinter was third. Gay’s time was 0.01 seconds less than his world-leading time and still 0.21 off Bolt’s world record. He earned $40,000 and a diamond for winning the season-long competition. Yohan Blake is hoping to make a lasting impression at the 2024 Paris Olympics.