World 100m champion Yohan Blake credits his hard work on the track and motivation from world record holder Usain Bolt as key elements in his successful career so far.

Catching the eye as a promising junior athlete, Blake announced himself on the world stage at the 2011 Daegu World Championships by claiming gold in the men's 100m after his Racers Track Club teammate Bolt false-started in the final. The young sprinter then went on to prove the performance was no fluke by closing the 2012 season in impressive fashion after clocking the second-fastest-ever 200m time, 20.26, bettered only by Bolt's record of 19.19. The sprinter, nicknamed 'The Beast', is known for his fierce work ethic, and he believes that helps him maintain a competitive edge.

"When you guys are sleeping at night, I'm out there working. That's why they call me 'The Beast," Blake told USA Today. The 22-year-old admits that with such a drive to succeed training with Bolt is an advantage and a source of motivation.

Bolt pushes me

"Bolt pushes me a lot in training," Blake said, "due to the fact that when he takes one stride, I have to take two."

Ahead of the highly anticipated National Trials later this month, Blake will have a chance to better his season's best time of 9.84 on Saturday at the Adidas Grand Prix in New York, where he will compete in a field which includes Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago, and the USA's Trell Kimmons. Only Bolt, on three occasions - 9.82 (Jamaica) 9.76 (Rome) and 9.79 (Oslo) - has gone faster this season.