KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Usain Bolt used the occasion of his acceptance speech for winning the Sports Personality-of-the-Year award to brush aside misconceptions about his relationship with World 100 metres champion Yohan Blake.
The Jamaican sprint megastar was speaking against the backdrop that training partner Blake said he was afraid of him and he was working harder in practice to stay ahead of his younger rival.
Bolt said the rivalry with Blake was healthy for the sport and the island, and so too, was his friendship off the track with his fellow Racers Track Club teammate.
“There were a lot of things stirring up in the media, so I thought I would take the opportunity to clear it up,” said Bolt in front of a packed ballroom at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel and before a “live” television audience.
“It’s good to have rivalries, but when you try to break up a friendship, that is the wrong way to go.”
Bolt added: “The rivalry is always going to be there because we are two great athletes, but in training, it’s all about hard work and outside of that, we are good friends.
“We will. . .enjoy our friendship and we will both continue to work hard. If I win, Jamaica wins, and if Yohan wins, Jamaica wins, so it’s good for the country anyway.”
Bolt reportedly nosed Blake out for the Sports Personality award and admitted that he was surprised that he copped the honour.
