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Discover the remarkable rise of 14-year-old sprint sensation Divine Iheme who has shattered records and emerged as a future athletics star.
At just 14 years old, Divine Iheme has already carved his name into the annals of track and field history.
The British teenager recently shattered the world 100m record for his age group, clocking an astonishing 10.30 seconds at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre on August 26.
This performance not only smashed the previous record of 10.51 seconds but also cemented his status as one of the most exciting young talents in athletics.
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16:00 - 27.08.2024
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Here are five things you need to know about this electrifying sprinter who is capturing the attention of the athletics world.
1. The lightning Bolt of Lee Valley
Divine Iheme earned the nickname ‘Lightning Divine’ for a reason.
Running with a legal wind speed of 1.7 meters per second, Iheme's time of 10.30 seconds obliterated the previous world best of 10.51 seconds, set by Jamaica’s Sachin Dennis.
This record-breaking run is just the latest in a series of rapid times that Iheme has posted this year.
Although he clocked faster times earlier in the season—10.46, 10.48, and 10.49 seconds—these were disqualified due to wind assistance.
With his 10.30 being wind-legal, Iheme has officially stamped his authority on the track, and the world is taking notice.
2 A star in the making with international ambitions
Despite his Nigerian roots, Divine Iheme has made it clear that his athletic allegiance lies with Great Britain.
Born in Nigeria, Iheme moved to the UK at a young age and has since been nurtured by the British athletics system.
In a recent interview with Sky Sports, he expressed his desire to represent Great Britain on the international stage.
“I want to represent Great Britain in the future because they have helped me the most," he said.
3. Athletics runs in the family
Athletic prowess is in Divine Iheme’s blood. Both of his parents, Nkiruku and Innocent Iheme, were accomplished athletes who represented Nigeria at the international level.
Nkiruku, his mother, is also his coach and the founder of the PWD Athletic Academy in Oxfordshire, which aims to help children realize their potential through athletics.
His father, Innocent Iheme competed at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
With such a strong athletic pedigree, it’s no surprise that Divine has inherited the speed and determination that are driving him to greatness.
4. A student of the legends
From a young age, Divine Iheme has been inspired by the legends of track and field.
He has closely studied the races of Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, and Allyson Felix, the most decorated female track and field athlete in Olympic history.
“I’ve watched quite a lot of Usain Bolt’s races and Allyson Felix’s 200m, 400m, and relays,” he told Sky Sports.
“Probably the first race I watched was his [Bolt’s] world 200m record, the 19.19, and I was inspired to pursue the dream.”
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20:45 - 26.08.2024
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This deep admiration for the greats has clearly influenced his own journey as he aims to leave a lasting legacy on the sport.
5. Breaking barriers at just 14
At just 14 years old, Divine Iheme’s achievements are already placing him among the elite in junior athletics.
With his 10.30-second run, he has catapulted to third on the European U18 all-time list, trailing only Britain’s Teddy Wilson (10.26) and France’s Jeff Erius (10.27).
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