Yohan Blake of Jamaica reacts after competing in the Men's 200m Round 1 Heats on Day 11 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 7, 2012 (© Getty Images)
Yohan Blake, the second fastest man ever in the 200m, will head to Asia for his start of the summer season and will run over the longer sprint at the 2013 IAAF Diamond League meeting in Shanghai, China, on 18 May.
The man widely known as ‘The Beast’ is looking forward to competing in the Chinese metropolis.
“Returning to China will bring good memories for me. It was in China that I won my first major international medal as a junior athlete at the 2006 IAAF World Junior Championships,” reflected Blake.
“Competing in the Samsung Diamond League in Shanghai will afford me the opportunity to once again experience the truly magnificent hospitality of the Chinese people. I am looking forward to returning and competing well at the 200m distance.”
The great potential of Blake, in combination with the proven fast track in Shanghai, should prove to be a fantastic combination for what should be a special night of athletics.
The 23-year-old Jamaican has a 200m personal best of 19.26 and had eight races over the distance under 20 seconds. He is intending to make a serious attempt at improving the meeting record, which currently stands at 19.76 and was set by Blake’s fellow Jamaican and training partner Usain Bolt in 2009.
Organisers for the IAAF
2013 IAAF Diamond League Calendar
Doha, QAT – 10 May
Shanghai, CHN – 18 May
New York, USA – 25 May
Eugene, USA – 1 Jun
Rome, ITA – 6 Jun
Oslo, NOR – 13 Jun
Birmingham, GBR – 30 Jun
Lausanne, SUI – 4 Jul
Paris, FRA – 6 Jul
Monaco, MON – 19 Jul
London, GBR – 26-27 Jul
Stockholm, SWE – 22 Aug
Zürich, SUI – 29 Aug
Brussels, BEL – 6 Sep
