This summers Olympics is bound to be a spectacular one. One which will bring out the best of sport from people across the globe. The men's 100m sprint final is one of the most watched events in any Olympics. It's an event that lasts just under 10 seconds, but it can change the course of history forever. This was proven back in 2008 in Beijing, when Jamaican Usain Bolt broke the World and Olympic records by running the men's 100m final in 9.69 seconds, becoming the fastest man on the planet.
At the 2012 Olympics though, I believe a new man will win the men's 100m final. His name, Yohan Blake. Although this year's Olympics will be his first, I think he will be able to step up to the mark and win. Here are the reasons why I think Blake will win gold in the 100m.
1. His training partner
Blake couldn't ask for a better training partner. Fellow Jamaican, Usain Bolt. With Bolt having won Gold in the 100m at the 2008 Olympics, Blake has the best peer a 100m runner could ask for. He will be able to give him guidance in order to prepare him for the Olympics. Bolt and Blake regularly beat each other in training too, so they are always providing each other with tough competition.
2. His coaching staff
Not only does he train with Bolt, but he also has the same coaching staff as him. Jamaican, Glen Mills. In the past, Mills has trained the likes of Bolt, Jamaican sprinter Ray Stewart, who won silver in the 100m relay in the 1984 Olympics, British sprinter Dwain Chambers and Saint Kitts and Nevis sprinter Kim Collins, so there is nothing he doesn't know about sprinting. He was also the head coach of the Jamaican Olympic Athletics team from 1987 to 2009, helping Jamaica win 33 Olympic medals in that time period. He is currently the head coach of the Racers Track Club, helping Bolt and Blake to perform at their best for this summers Olympic games.
3. Take advantage of his opponents weaknesses
With Bolt still having problems with his start (one start led to him being disqualified from the 100m final at the World Athletics Championships just under a year ago as he came out of the blocks before the starting gun was fired), and Powell suffering from pre-race anxiety (which has led to him under-performing in some major races), this is a great opportunity for Blake to step out of the shadow of them, show himself to the world and make himself the new face of athletics in Jamaica.
4. He's already defeated his opponents in previous races
Bolt and Blake both say they regularly beat each other in races at training. Both Bolt and Blake have defeated each other and their opponents in past athletics championships as well (Blake won the 100m final at the World Athletics Championships just under a year ago after Bolt was disqualified). However, Blake is the man with the fastest time so far in the 100m in 2012 with a time of 9.75 seconds. He set this time in the 100m final at the Jamaican Olympic trials at the end of June, defeating Bolt who had a time of 9.76 seconds, and Powell who had a time of 9.88 seconds.
Blake is now the national champion of Jamaica. He will hope to continue is form from the Jamaican Olympic trials, into this summers Olympics in order to win the gold medal. I think he will be able to do it.
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| Yohan Blake (535) winning against Usain Bolt (539) at the Jamaican Olympic trials |
twitter - @ConorJPorter
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