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Showdown

Blake: Friendship with Bolt will endure, despite Olympic rivalry

The pair go head-to-head in London next month for the title of ‘fastest man in the world.’

YOHAN BLAKE SAYS that his friendship with Usain Bolt will not be affected by what happens on the track at the Olympic Games.

The Jamaicans have been training partners since Blake left his school coach in October 2008 and joined the Racers Track Club in Kingston.

He has slowly picked away at Bolt’s aura of invincibility, and triumphed over double Olympic champion in both the 100m and 200m at the Jamaican trials last month.

“Win, lose or draw we are friends, even though it is business and he wants to win and I want to win,” said Blake.

The 100m world champion said that training against Bolt has made him the sprinter that he is today.

“Every time in training I want to win but he’s always there. So I say ‘OK, how am I going to win on the big day?’” added the 22-year-old.

“That’s why some of the time I tend to be at the front so when I get on the track I can say ‘OK, I beat him in training’.”

Blake added that Bolt, far from trying to hinder his progress, has tried to motivate him to get better and better.

“He will say to me: ‘Yohan, look, you’re not doing this for the people, you’re not doing this for the fans, you’re not doing this for your family, you’re doing this for yourself.’ He can motivate me.”

The men’s 100m and 200m finals will take place on August 5th and 9th respectively.

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