The Phenomenon of Divine Iheme

Divine Iheme, a British sprinter, has been making waves in the athletics world since he was just 14 years old. Last summer, he ran the 100m in an astonishing 10.3 seconds, setting a world record for his age group. To put this into perspective, Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles' personal best at the same age was about one second slower, and Australian sprint prodigy Gout Gout clocked 10.57 seconds.

Early Beginnings

Born in Oxford to two Nigerian former international sprinters, Divine was destined for speed. His mother, Nkiruka Divine, who is also his coach, noticed his potential early on. "I knew when he was in my tummy," she recalls. "When I was pregnant, he kept on kicking." Divine's parents, both athletes themselves, recognized his talent when he entered primary school and decided to nurture it.

Record-Breaking Achievements

In January, Divine set the 60m indoor world record for 15-year-olds. His ambitions, however, are much higher. "I can see myself with an Olympic title to my name in the 100 and the 200, and hopefully it will happen," says Divine, who is nicknamed 'Lightning'.

Training and Discipline

Divine trains four times a week at the PWD Athletics Academy in Oxford, founded by his parents. His training regimen is rigorous, and his mother ensures that he stays focused. "Once we enter the track, I don't look at him as my son," Nkiruka says. "I have to get down to business, so I take off motherhood and bring in the coach."

Future Goals

Divine is inspired by Usain Bolt's record-breaking performances and admires Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo. He is also closely following Gout Gout's progress. "He's doing great. I saw his recent 20.2, and I was really happy for him," Divine says. His immediate goals include running a personal best of 10.2 seconds or lower in the 100m and achieving a sub-21 in the 200m.

Staying Grounded

Despite his extraordinary talent, Divine remains a typical teenager. He enjoys watching Netflix and binge-watching shows. The importance of staying grounded is emphasized by 2010 world indoor champion Dwain Chambers, who notes that athletics is a marathon, not a sprint. It's about nurturing talent at the right time and teaching athletes skills both on and off the track.

Divine Iheme's journey is a testament to the power of talent, discipline, and the right guidance. As he continues to break records and set new goals, the world watches in anticipation of what this young sprinter will achieve next.