)
Zharnel Hughes shared insights about a remarkable comparison his coach made between him and a legendary sprinter after a major achievement.
Britain's fastest man Zharnel Hughes has been drawing attention not just for his speed but for a remarkable comparison made by his coach Glen Mills, the man behind the rise of sprinting legend Usain Bolt.
Hughes, who stunned the athletics world in June 2023 by setting a new British 100m record, revealed that Mills sees striking similarities between the two sprinters.
The revelation came as Hughes reflected on his progress after breaking Linford Christie's 30-year-old national record.
)
09:30 - 12.10.2024
'I told my mom'-Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recalls the powerful childhood moment that defined her path
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has opened up about the pivotal childhood moment that inspired her to take track seriously
Hughes, now 28, had run a blistering time of 9.83 seconds at the New York City Grand Prix, shaving 0.04 seconds off Christie's long-standing mark.
The British sprinter credited his coach for playing a crucial role in his development and shared the high praise Mills has for his abilities.
“He always compares the both of us at times," Hughes said during an interview in mid-2023 with Sky Sports.
"He’s always like, ‘I see similar traits in you than what I see in Usain.’ I’m a little bit shorter than Usain, so my frequency is much faster, but we have a lot of similar attributes in regards to how we run. So I think that’s the exciting bit that my coach likes about it.”
The comparison to Bolt, widely considered the greatest sprinter of all time, is no small compliment. Mills, who was instrumental in guiding Bolt to Olympic and world championship glory, has overseen Hughes' training for several years.
)
For Hughes, the connection with the legendary Jamaican sprinter serves as both motivation and a validation of his hard work.
Hughes’ record-breaking run in New York was no fluke either. Remarkably, he had predicted the exact time earlier that day.
"I didn’t know I would run that exact time, I just got up in the morning and wrote that number. I closed the book and left it there," Hughes said.
"When I got out there on the track I was focusing on competing and giving the best performance I can possibly give. It was just a matter of executing the race and once I did that, everything came together."
)
19:13 - 12.10.2024
'I knew I could have medalled' - Oblique Seville reflects on his disappointing Paris Olympics performance
Jamaican sprinter Oblique Seville has expressed disappointment following his eighth place finish in the 100m final at the Paris Olympics, despite entering with high hopes.
His 9.83 was not only a personal triumph but also the fastest time in the world in 2023, setting the stage for a strong showing at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest later that year.
)
Hughes was quick to acknowledge the legacy of Linford Christie, Britain’s only men’s 100m world champion, as well as the support he’s received from the former champion.
“Linford is a great guy. He has set the bar high for us and showed the world that Great Britain is something to be reckoned with,” Hughes said.
“For me, he’s always been an inspirational person. Anytime I’m in the UK, he’s always there to help. I will always have respect for him.”
)
19:25 - 12.10.2024
Julien Alfred shares how she triumphed over Sha'Carri Richardson & why she lost 200m Olympics gold
Julien Alfred has revealed what made her triumph over world champion Sha'Carri Richardson in the 100m plus what contributed to her loss to Gabby Thomas in the 200m at Paris Olympics.
With the World Championships in sight, Hughes remained focused on his training and preparation.
“I want to stay focused and put in the work. I just got back from the gym so the work continues," he said.
"It’s buzzing all over the place. I can do well, but I have to get myself there. Once I do that, the preparation. I’m pretty sure once I get to the World Championships, I can be even faster."
)
17:35 - 10.10.2024
'I didn't tell him'-Noah Lyles' mom reveals shocking childhood diagnosis kept secret
Noah Lyles' mother, Keisha Caine Bishop has revealed how she kept a key childhood diagnosis from him to protect his potential.
For now, Hughes is laser-focused on his future goals, but the comparisons to Bolt and the recent record-breaking performance have firmly established him as one of the top sprinters to watch on the world stage.
Whether or not he can emulate Bolt’s career remains to be seen, but with Glen Mills in his corner the sky’s the limit.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)