Chat-bout.net - Historic - Yohan Blake is youngest 100m World champ

Historic - Yohan Blake is youngest 100m World champ

As Jamaican Yohan Blake raced across the line with arms outstretched, celebrating his new status as the youngest world 100m champion, many inside the Daegu Stadium were still trying to figure out what had happened earlier.

Blake won Jamaica's first medal at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea, after posting 9.92 to better Walter Dix, 10.08, and Kim Collins, 10.09; but while one Jamaican celebrated, it was agony for another.

"My life has changed, becoming a world champion; my life has been changed right now," were Blake's first words as a world champion and, at 21 years old, the youngest the sport has ever seen.

The Daegu Stadium had hushed in expectation. Usain Bolt, the defending 100m champion, was going through his usual pre-race antics; he seemed relaxed, surely a fast time was about to be witnessed.

He pointed to a group of Jamaicans in the crowd and flashed that trademark grin of his while walking back to his blocks with his arms outstretched, as if to say, "I'll be flying."

Already celebrating

The Jamaicans in the stands were already celebrating. Surely, their hero would once again deliver, but when the starter fired two shots in the air, it was obvious what had happened.

Bolt had lost his cool at the line; seems he is human after all.

Eager to get going, the big Jamaican, who has been getting pretty good starts here in Daegu, got up a bit too quickly this time around and he knew it.

But the Olympic 100m and 200m champion is not allowing himself to be torn apart by this disappointment and was quoted:

"Looking for tears? Not going to happen. I'm OK."

Blake, in the meantime, though deeply hurt by his close friend's mishap, is revelling in his moment and could hardly contain himself as he made his way through the mixed zone after his victory.

"I thought they could have given him (Bolt) a next chance, but I have to enjoy this moment because opportunities like this come by only once, so I had to make use of it," said Blake, who said Bolt's disqualification gave him extra motivation to secure the gold medal and ensure Jamaica's continued dominance in international sprints.

"I know that's what he would have wanted me to do, so I had to make it happen," said Blake.

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