‘Universal icon Bolt can never be replaced’
NETHANEEL MITCHELL-BLAKE tasted glory in Usain Bolt’s final race – and is longing for more.
While the 23-year-old reckons it will be impossible to fill the void of the newly-retired Jamaican, he hopes GB’s sprinters can build on their 4x100 metres relay success at the London 2017 World Championships.
“Usain Bolt left a void that can never be filled,” Mitchell-Blake said. “What he achieved is truly remarkable, no one will match that.
“He’s a universal icon. He’s more recognised than any other athlete in the world.”
Bolt quit in agony after suffering a hamstring injury as he tried to take Jamaica’s relay team to the podium. Mitchell-Blake, meanwhile, anchored Britain to gold.
The juxtaposition of Mitchell-Blake’s ecstasy and Bolt’s agony was clear as the eight-time Olympic champion limped away from his final race.
“It’s still surreal,” added Mitchell-Blake, who placed fourth in the individual 200m that Bolt opted not to run.
“Every time I see the celebration I relive it pretty vividly. I wasn’t aware we’d won until the official time came on the scoreboard.”
Bolt’s departure creates an opportunity, not least for Mitchell-Blake in the 200m, once Bolt’s signature event.
The Londoner, who is based at Louisiana State University, runs in the 200m at the Muller Grand Prix Birmingham today, and will compete against Turkish world champion Ramil Guliyev.
British relay team-mate Danny Talbot will be running in a rival lane in an event full of pedigree and left “wide open” without Bolt.
“It probably brings back more of the competitive spirit, just because of the nature of the crazy times he was running,” MitchellBlake added.
“The sport might take a step back in time. But everybody now feels it’s more wide open and we are vying for gold.”
Mitchell-Blake says Britain’s sprint group can fulfil a potential demonstrated by the relay success, his own 200m performance and Reece Prescod’s seventh in the 100m final.
“We were all gutted not to get medals when we failed as individuals,” Mitchell-Blake added. “But it was fitting we got the relay gold at home. It just goes to show we’re on the cusp of doing something special.
“It’s now our time to build our own legacy and get our places in history.”
THE Muller Grand Prix, the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham. Tickets at the venue. For more, see britishathletics.org.uk