Yohan Blake

Double Olympic silver medallist and world 100m champion Yohan 'The Beast' Blake is showing a softer side, after making an passionate plea for more attention to be paid towards curtailing poverty.

Blake, who himself grew up in very humble surroundings as a youngster, made his appeal during an eight-minute video, which he posted to his account on popular social media platform Twitter.

The 22-year-old sprinting star who now enjoys lucrative corporate sponsorships from the likes of international sports goods giants Adidas, Wisynco (WATA) and Key Motors, said that he can relate to the struggles of those living without basic means and the uncertainty of subsistence.

"I know what it feels like to get up in the morning and your belly empty, wondering where the next food coming from; what you going and do with your life," said Blake in his video clip.

The former St Jago High School student made it clear that he intends to use his platform to help the less fortunate and that this drive is what keeps him motivated to do well.

"I want to be like the next Oprah Winfrey, help thousands of people," Blake said. "Every day I am on the track, I say to myself, "Yohan, you got to keep strong, you got to keep on working because poor people are there and I know what it is to be in that situation."

Already the second fastest man in history in both the 100m (9.69) and the 200m (19.26), Blake promised to use the cash incentive, which he recently received from the Jamaican Government to help youngsters through his YBafraid Foundation.

man in the mirror

"Michael Jackson said we ought to look at the man in the mirror and I am looking at myself every day in the mirror and I am going to start with me," said Blake.

"I am going to make a difference, If I'm driving and a little kid comes up to me and says: "Yohan can I have $20?" How can I say no? I have to help that kid!"

"Don't find it hard to give because that same person you help can be the next prime minister, the next Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt or Shelly-Ann Fraser the next big person in society and that same person can help you," Blake pleaded. "I am going to live for poor people."

"Don't be afraid to help!" he added. "I am Yohan Blake and I represent poor people. I am going to make a difference in this world. I am going to be the track star turned the next Oprah Winfrey because I am going to fight hunger I am going to work to fight it each time I am on that track."

Yohan Blake