If there may be the 17-year-old dash sensation Gout Gout in Australia, there may be Divine Iheme, simply 15, in Britain. Gout Gout is being seen as the following Usain Bolt, Iheme the following Noah Lyles, the present 100-metre Olympic champion. These are early days, but each these sprinters have made headlines by stopping the clock with insane timings.
Iheme broke the age-group world file for the 60 metres on Sunday on the BFTTA Indoor Sequence. He attained distinction by twice breaking the earlier file of 6.74 seconds set over 20 years in the past in 2003 by clocking 6.71 and 6.72. That’s not all, Iheme is already fourth on the UK’s Below-18 all-time record over 60 metres.
What actually acquired individuals speaking about Iheme’s potential as the following dash sensation was when {the teenager}, born to Nigerian dad and mom, went quicker than Lyles did on the age of 14 within the 100 metres. That was final 12 months.
“After I first noticed it, I used to be in utter shock, I couldn’t consider it! I used to be leaping about, working round, I simply felt so pleased however I couldn’t have executed it with out God,” mentioned Iheme, chatting with Sky Sports activities Information. “Noah Lyles is a superb athlete and he’s given me a variety of confidence to pursue this profession, run faster, get a greater time.”
6.72s!!!! 🔥 at FIFTEEN!!
This man is really insane!
World Age-15 file ☑️Divine Iheme 🇬🇧 storms to a World Age 15 file of 6.72s at Lee Valley 🤯🤯🤯
He breaks J-Mee Samuels file of 6.74s from 2003! pic.twitter.com/qrZqsHFVDz
— World Athletics Hub (@wldathleticshub) January 5, 2025
Midway around the globe in Australia, Gout, whose dad and mom are from South Sudan however have settled down in Queensland, made waves final month when he grew to become the sixth quickest 18-year-old ever. He additionally clocked 20.04 seconds to interrupt the Australian 200-metre nationwide file that had stood the check of time — Peter Norman’s 20.06 seconds from the 1968 Olympic Video games.
There have been many younger sprinters with distinctive begins to their careers however didn’t go onto get pleasure from the identical degree of success on the senior degree. Nonetheless, at current each Gout and Iheme are being seen as once-in-a-generation abilities.
Iheme’s dad and mom — father Harmless and mom Nkiruku — represented Nigeria on the 2002 Commonwealth Video games. Iheme can be looking for inspiration from the proper sources.
“I’ve watched numerous Usain Bolt’s races and Allyson Felix’s 200m, 400m and relays,” Iheme mentioned. “Most likely the primary race I watched was his (Bolt’s) 200m world file, the 19.19, and I used to be impressed to pursue the dream. I attempt my finest to slingshot off the bend and proceed holding first till I cross the end line. For my part, I feel my [running style] is exclusive and pure. I don’t attempt to mannequin it from anybody.”
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