Yohan Blake Blasted for Ruining Jamaica’s Dream as Track and Field Fans Fume After Major Blunder

Dark clouds are definitely hanging over Jamaica right now—and not the rain kind. First, they weren’t the fastest in the mixed 4x100m relay (Canada stole that spotlight), and then came the women’s 4x100m heats on May 9 at the World Relays. Jamaica rolled out a heavy-duty lineup in Heat 2 and still ended up finishing second. Not ideal, but hey, it wasn’t the end of the world… until the men’s 4x100m heat hit the track.

Let’s talk about Heat 2. Jamaica had Rohan Watson, Julian Forte, Yohan Blake, and Kishane Thompson ready to roll. On paper? Firepower. On the track? A disaster. They didn’t just underperform—they got disqualified. Yep, you read that right. DQ’d. South Africa ended up advancing, but it could’ve easily been Jamaica if not for… whatever went wrong in that exchange. Yohan Blake’s crew had one job, and now everyone’s left scratching their heads. So now the question is: what exactly went wrong with Blake’s team?

Man, that was hard to watch. Jamaica’s men got knocked out of the 4x100m at the World Relays after dropping the baton on the second exchange. Rohan Watson had a great start, but when it came time for Julian Forte and Yohan Blake — the two veterans — to hand off the baton, things went south. They messed up the exchange, and just like that, Jamaica’s shot at what was supposed to be an epic clash with South Africa slipped away.

One bad handoff, and just like that, they were disqualified. Fans were left stunned — it wasn’t just a mistake, it was a total momentum killer. Meanwhile, South Africa took full advantage. Bayanda Walaza, Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana, and Akani Simbine blazed to a 37.84 finish to win the heat. Germany followed with 38.33 thanks to Kevin Kranz, Owen Ansah, Yannick Wolf, and Lucas Ansah-Peprah.

Kenya’s squad — Boniface Ontuga Mweresa, Ferdinand Omanyala, Meshack Babu, and Steve Onyango Odhiambo — clocked a national record of 38.35 but just missed the cut. Watching that unfold, fans couldn’t help but seethe in frustration.

Fans left disappointed as Yohan Blake and Forte struggle in Jamaica’s relay heartbreak

One fan summed it up best: “So disappointing.” And honestly, this wasn’t the first time fans had to sit through deja vu. So, back in 2024, Jamaica’s men’s 4x100m relay team had a bit of a disaster at the Paris Olympics — and honestly, it was a gut punch. Ackeem Blake, Jelani Walker, Jehlani Gordon, and Kishane Thompson ran a solid 38.45 seconds, but here’s the kicker: they missed qualifying by just 0.06 seconds. The baton exchanges were a mess, especially the handoff between Walker and Gordon, and then from Gordon to Thompson. One little mistake in a relay race can cost everything, and that’s exactly what happened. They ended up finishing fourth in their heat, behind Canada, France, and China, and that was it — no final.

Now, here’s the thing: this wasn’t just any loss. Jamaica has been the sprinting powerhouse for so long, and this was a wake-up call. Since Usain Bolt retired in 2017, it’s been a bit of a struggle to keep the same dominance.

One fan didn’t hold back, saying, “Very, very disappointing. I don’t understand why these men messed up. Just be safe in the heats, get it around — don’t try for records. That team could’ve run a low 37 easy and qualified. At least our women always represent.” Another chimed in, “What the heck! Forte to Blake? Two very experienced athletes.”

And honestly, they’ve got a point. Julian Forte is 32, Yohan Blake is 35 — these guys aren’t new to this. Blake’s a two-time Olympic champ, two-time world champ, and he’s still the second-fastest man ever over 200m with a 19.26, just behind Bolt. He’s also run 9.69 in the 100m — elite territory. Forte? He’s no slouch either. He’s clocked 9.91 in the 100m, 19.97 in the 200m, won a Diamond League meet, and even snagged a Commonwealth Games title. With that kind of experience, fans expected more — at the very least, a clean handoff.

One fan dropped a truth bomb: “Everyone wanna be Bolt and Asafa till it’s time to do it.” And honestly, it’s true. Not everyone can be like those two. I mean, do you remember the team they made back in the day? Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell were the powerhouses that led Jamaica to victory in the men’s 4x100m relay at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. That team was something else. They were the ones everyone looked up to!

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team — consisting of Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Usain Bolt, and Asafa Powell — set a world record of 37.10 seconds. Bolt anchored the team and delivered a blistering final leg to secure gold. But here’s the twist: in 2017, the International Olympic Committee stripped the team of their gold after Nesta Carter was found guilty of a doping violation during a retest. That meant Bolt’s famous ‘triple-triple’ was no longer a thing, and the victory was officially annulled.

Forwarding to the 2012 London Olympics, Asafa Powell, suffering a setback after an injury, did not make the relay team of Jamaica. The relay team, then included Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake, and Usain Bolt, and they did not disappoint, taking the lead into the final leg to finish the race in a world record of 36.84 seconds. While Powell was away, Blake acted in his stead, and he certainly delivered with spectacular outcomes.

One fan tossed out the idea, saying, “Yohan Blake should just retire,” and it’s not hard to see why people are thinking that. Now 35, last year he made it clear that the Paris Olympics the year after would be his last, calling it his “last dance.” It does feel at least like it is an appropriate time for him to think about retirement. His early career was nothing short of stunning as Blake captured the 100m world crown at just 21, and the youngest ever, but a run of injuries has since plagued him.

That injury in 2013 slowed him down, and he has failed to perform at the level of form he used to since that period. This was especially true when he finished fifth at the 2024 Jamaican Olympic Trials, completing 10.21 seconds and missing Paris Games qualification by some distance. Given his age and the hurdles he has experienced, it’s not surprising that some believe he should quit.

But Yohan Blake isn’t just thinking about retirement; he’s eyeing a whole new career. He’s always had a passion for cricket and has hinted at switching to the sport after he hangs up his track shoes. Before sprinting took over, cricket was his first love, and now, he’s seriously considering making the transition. So, while it might be the end of his track career, it could be the start of something completely different. Still, after today’s baton mishap, fans are upset, and the pressure is mounting for Blake to think long and hard about his future on the track.