Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake used to be a regular sight in all major track and field events. Arguably, their best outing was in the 2012 London Olympics, where they overcame the USA’s challenge in the 4x100m relay to place themselves in history. Usain Bolt‘s last leg run proved to be heavy on the opponent and glitter to all the track and field fans on that day. However, on certain occasions, Yohan Blake made no stone unturned to be called the next Usain Bolt

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Yohan Blake’s Diamond League outings have witnessed some of his best attempts to touch Usain Bolt. Recently Yohan himself unfathomed one such record of him that was almost a ‘Usain Bolt’. 

Yohan Blake shares his past record that remains only second to Usain Bolt’s 

2023’s Diamond League proved to be a graveyard of many past sprinting records. However, Yohan Blake’s 200-meter record made a survivor out of that. The former world champion took to his IG to post that record. Yohan Blake made the record for sprinting 200 meters in just 19.26 seconds in the Brussels Diamond League in 2011. That timing came as the fastest that year and the second-best timing in the history of 200-meter sprinting, just after Usain Bolt’s 19.19 seconds

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Incidentally, Noah Lyles, the six-time world champion, made his best attempt to touch Yohan’s record in 200 meters in the 2022 World Championship in front of his home crowd. But his timing was a little short. However, in the last two years, he has touched the 19-second glory in 200 meters several times. 

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The camaraderie between them 

The first occasion when Bolt shared a space with Yohan Blake in the same team was in 2008. They were training partners then. Three years later, in the 2011 World Championship in Daegu, Yohan clinched the gold in 100 meters in the absence of Usain Bolt. The Beast’s much-famed Diamond League record came just two weeks after that, in Brussels. All these achievements came when Yohan was 22 years old. 

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Read more: Legendary Track and Field Athlete From Jamaica Reveals Shocking News in Pursuit of 2024 Paris Olympics Dream

Later, before the 2012 London Olympics, Yohan defeated Bolt in the Jamaican trials for the Olympics. Both defeats came in 100-meter and 200-meter sprinting. However, Usain Bolt retired from sprinting after the 2016 Rio Olympics. Yohan is planning to take his retirement after the 2024 Paris Olympics. Now. it’s time to see how he delivers before his ‘last dance’.   

Watch this story: Reminiscing His Vacation Spree In Jamaica, World Champion Noah Lyles Makes A Special Appeal Ahead Of World Athletics Awards 

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Prasun Chakrabarty

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Prasun Chakrabarty is a Senior Writer in the Olympic Sports division at EssentiallySports, where he covers track and field, gymnastics, swimming, and other Olympic disciplines. A seasoned journalist with three years at the company, Prasun's extensive knowledge and passion for track and field were evident from day one. With years of connections and research already established, he brought a unique edge to the ES Insights and Trends Desk. He has since become a key voice in the company's Olympic sports coverage. His star coverage includes World Athletics Indoor Championships, USATF Outdoor Championships, and reporting live from the U.S. Marathon Trials. His expertise earned him a special invitation from the Paris City Council to cover lead-up events ahead of the 2024 Olympics. Over time, his stories have sparked real-world impact. His piece on athlete mental toughness drew praise from Texas Volleyball head coach Jerritt Elliott, while a feature on winter sports caught the attention of Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn, who engaged with it publicly. His reporting has made its way into Wikipedia, where editors have cited his work as a trusted source on Olympic sports. Being an alum of the Journalistic Excellence Program (JEP) and an active member of the ES Think Tank, he’s part of the team driving the site’s long-term coverage strategy.

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