Following the recent outburst from Asafa Powell on Jamaican sports authorities, this article details how Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake have also openly called out on the same issue about being let down.
Jamaican sports authorities have been under fire from some of their athletics stars in recent years, with track legends Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt, and Yohan Blake topping the list.
These icons have aired their grievances towards the authorities for poor support systems, unacceptable managerial practices, and not giving due honours and respect to them during their active years and after retirement.
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They have been vocal about these situations demanding better treatment for athletes that future generations may benefit from, while some have accused Jamaican fans of abandonment in their hard times and only care about winning.
Here’s a lowdown of Jamaican athletics stars who have complained or called out their sports authorities in recent years.
Jamaica doesn’t give me respect – Yohan Blake slams his country for abandoning him
In 2024, after an eighth-place finish at the London Diamond League and falling short of making the Jamaican Olympic team to the Paris Games, 2011 world 100m champion Yohan Blake emotionally spoke on the unhappy treatment and disrespect he has received from his country’s people through the years.
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Blake – the second fastest man in history behind Bolt, opened up in an exclusive interview with The Inside Lane on his disappointment in failing to achieve his Olympic goals and struggling to hit top form that season.
“This brings back memories, you know I’m kinda injury-free today, back with the memories that I cast here in 2012. My head is all over the place right now because what I wanted to do at the Jamaican trials, I didn’t get to do, I did want to run my final Olympics but I didn’t get to, but um the journey continues the same way,” he said.
Despite being a two-time Olympic gold medallist and world champion, Blake also revealed he is disrespected by his country people but he’s grateful to get the love elsewhere.
“My own country Jamaica doesn’t give me the respect but I’m happy they don’t because other people outside do and they appreciate me more than my own country.
“I’m happy that I’m able to be crowned elsewhere apart from Jamaica so I will continue to do what I’m doing until I’m happy to step away when it’s time.”
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Consequently, this year, the 35-year-old revealed he had options to represent another country, something that he was consistently asked to do during his heydays.
However, he chose to stay loyal to Jamaica even though there was nothing to show for his hard work and the medals he had won for the country. He pointed out that if he could have been running for another country he would have made millions.
“Other countries have asked me if I could go run for them…if I was running for a different country, I could have retired at 25 or 21,” Blake shared in an interview with Sim Soul Sessions.
“I have achieved so much at a young age, the youngest world champion at the age of 21 and I could have stopped there. When I go somewhere, I’m not saying Jamaica has to treat me like a king and I know I’m not better than anyone but we have done so much for the country and what do we have to show?
“Some so many athletes have retired but they don’t have anything from the country. If we were running for a different country we could have been far. I’m not done until I’m dead,” he said.
‘I’m not getting a national hero alive’ – Usain Bolt on ever receiving Jamaica’s highest ever honour
On The Fix Podcast in February 2025, the greatest sprinter in history Usain Bolt said he isn’t expecting so much on receiving Jamaica’s highest honour despite seeing himself as a national hero.
Categorically, the sprint legend disclosed he’s doubtful he’ll receive the honour when alive, perhaps after his death.
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“We know we nah get national hero until we dead. Dat nah happen fi now so we just a put that out deh. Me nah siddung and stress bout dat,” said Bolt.
However, he remains happy with public opinion that he deserves the country’s highest national award.
“We always try to uplift Jamaica and put a positive spin out there because you know other people always talk and it’s always a negative energy. So we just try to put Jamaica on the map in a positive way,” he added.
“So when you hear people speak like that about you, it makes you know they recognise what you a do and what you a try accomplish for the country.”
The 100m and 200m world record holder who is arguably the greatest Jamaican sportsman in history, is also considered in the league of sporting greats such as Lionel Messi and Michael Phelps.
