The global 100-meter bronze champion Zharnel Hughes's prominent role on the Netflix documentary Sprint has raised his reputation, but two British debutants are also hoping to make a significant impact in Paris. The quickly rising Louie Hinchliffe and Wales' fastest man Jeremiah Azu will compete alongside Hughes in the 100m heats as he resumes his pursuit of his first Olympic gold on Saturday morning. Hughes shattered the 30-year-old 100m and 200m records in a couple of months last year.
Hinchliffe of Sheffield won the British 100-meter title in June with a time of 10.18 seconds, but in a different reality, he would have been the one offering IT help at these Games. Hughes was injured. When he made the decision to take athletics seriously last year, the 22-year-old former junior golfer called his current coach Carl Lewis. He stated: "I think being in Lancaster, especially in the north of England, is very difficult to train or to kind of find that group that you can really push yourself with."
I started running these days because of moving to the NCAA, which pushed me even more and kind of brought out my skill. SUGGESTED
After watching a video of Hinchliffe in action, Lewis, the nine-time Olympic champion who is currently the head track and field coach at the University of Houston, decided to invite the management and IT student from the University of Lancaster, who claimed he "doesn't have a clue" where he would have ended up had he stayed in England but chose the combination "because the degree was really broad." “I’m not too sure,” he added. To be honest, I might not have a job, therefore I might pursue a master's degree and wait another year.
In addition to his studies in management and information technology, Hinchliffe is now the US college (NCAA) 100-meter champion. He became the first European to accomplish this accomplishment in June when he crossed the finish line in 9.95 seconds in Eugene, placing him sixth on the UK all-time list. At the London Diamond League meet last month, Hughes recovered from the hamstring injury that prevented him from competing in the Olympic trials with a time of 10.00; nonetheless, Hinchliffe was the quickest Briton, finishing fourth with a time of 9.97.
Hinchliffe acknowledges when asked how much his life has altered during the past two months: "Like crazy." It doesn't seem genuine. Hinchliffe believes it's "a bit too early" for him to go pro despite his explosive potential, but he says it's "not a concrete decision" and that he would still "evaluate after the Games." I may require an additional year.
In addition, he intends to finish his IT degree. Azu, a 23-year-old Olympic rookie who made history in May by being the first Welsh athlete to run a 100-meter race in under 10 seconds, completes the British 100-meter triple. After winning the silver medal in the men's 100-meter event at the UK Championships, he secured his place in Paris.
Born in the Netherlands to Ghanaian parents, Azu came to Cardiff when he was three years old. He believes his family is "the reason I do what I do" and "means everything" to him.
Alongside another British Olympian Daryll Neita, he currently trains under Marco Airale in Italy. He has big plans, saying, "Athletics is the country's favorite Olympic sport and I'd love to become the face of it." "I'd really like for people to acknowledge the amount of effort I've put in to reach this point. If you didn't know me, you could assume that I'm just a really happy person, but you don't get what you see.
I'm prepared to take individuals out when necessary in a competitive situation. I believe my mother is the source of it. Although she is a kind woman, she is the first to put on her game face when it comes to anything serious.
"Honestly, all I want is to be in that final," Azu stated in Paris. I've never seen a senior person on a worldwide scale before. Sincerely, anything can happen in the final, and I am certain that I can give it my all when it counts.
