Male Athlete of the Year Award

2024 Male Athlete of the Year Award Recipient

Jerome Blake

Jerome Blake, a standout Canadian sprinter and now Olympic Champion, achieved remarkable success in 2024. Born in Buff Bay, Jamaica, and raised in Kelowna, British Columbia, Blake played a crucial role in Canada's athletics scene. At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, he won gold as part of the men's 4x100m relay team, alongside Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney, and Andre De Grasse. This victory marked Canada's first gold in the event since 1996. 

Blake's journey to Olympic gold was marked by consistent excellence. The team had previously secured their spot in Paris by placing second to the United States at the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas in May 2024, making their victory at the Olympics all the more sweeter. 

Blake's role as the second leg runner was pivotal in both their Olympic and World Championship successes. In 2022, the team had also won gold at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, setting a national record time of 37.48 seconds 

Originally a 400m hurdler in Jamaica, Jerome Blake switched to sprinting after a coach spotted his speed while he was supervising his younger brother on a soccer field. Inspired by Donovan Bailey's stories of Atlanta in 1996, Blake had always dreamed of competing for Canada. If it weren't for that pivotal moment on the soccer field, Jerome might never have discovered his true calling in sprinting. 

Sponsored by:

Award Criteria

• Awarded to the male athlete (amateur or professional) who brought the greatest amount of recognition to Kelowna.
• Include Provincial, National and World Ranking if applicable.
• Selections are based on the nominees achievements for the year 2023.
• Past information (awards and achievements) may be included, but should be primarily regarding the current award year.
• Finalist selections are based solely on the information in the completed package.