Kelowna-raised Jerome Blake to compete at nationals, receive upgraded Olympic medal

It is going to be an exciting four days of competition in Langley as the country’s best compete in the 2023 Canadian Track and Field Championships.

One of the highlights of the event will happen Saturday when members of the Canadian men’s 4x100m relay team from the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games receive their upgraded silver medals in front of the home crowd.

This is the result of a member on the Great Britain relay team rescinding the team’s second-place finish after he tested positive for performance-enhancing substances.

Canada’s bronze medal, which was awarded in a near empty stadium because of the pandemic, will now be upgraded to a silver medal in front of fans in the Lower Mainland.

Members of the team include Aaron Brown (Toronto), Andre De Grasse (Markham, Ont.), Brendon Rodney (Etobicoke, Ont.) and Jerome Blake (Burnaby).

Blake now resides in Burnaby, but when his family first moved to Canada they found a home in Kelowna.

It was then when Blake excelled on the track with the Okanagan Athletics Club and on the high school level at Rutland Secondary School.

Blake has since won numerous international races including a gold medal 4x100m win with Team Canada at the World Athletics Championships last summer.

The Canadian Track and Field Championships begin today and run through Sunday, with Blake getting into action Friday and competing in the 100 and 200m competitions over the next few days.

This is also the first time Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse will be running in front of home fans since winning the 200m gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Another track and field star that will be making an appearance is Olympic decathlon gold medallist Damian Warner.

NowMedia is expecting to speak to Blake next week about his performance at nationals and what it means to him to receive the silver medal.