Divine Iheme, a Nigeria-born British sprinter, is quickly becoming a name to watch in the world of athletics. At just 14 years old, Iheme has stunned spectators with his extraordinary speed, clocking a remarkable 10.30 seconds in the 100m at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre. This incredible feat broke the previous record of 10.51 seconds set by Jamaican sprinter Sachin Dennis, and it’s a performance that has left the athletics community buzzing.
Iheme’s rapid improvement on the track is nothing short of astonishing. Just two years ago, at the age of 12, he was running the 100m in 11.3 seconds. Now, he has shattered the ‘world record’ for his age group, making him a potential contender for future glory on the global stage.
As Iheme continues to progress, comparisons with sprinting legend Usain Bolt have already begun to surface. Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds in the 100m has stood unchallenged since 2009, but if Iheme maintains his current trajectory, he could one day pose a serious threat to that iconic mark.
THIS GUY IS RIDICULOUS!! 😱😱😱 10.56s!!! 🔥 AT FOURTEEN
Another UK U-15 record ☑️Divine Iheme 🇬🇧 once again rewrites the UK history books as he wins the UK U-15 100m title in 10.56s (0.7), just missing Sachin Dennis 🇯🇲 age 14 world record of 10.51s.
WHAT A TALENT!!! pic.twitter.com/iTzq6fx1PL
— World Athletics Hub (@wldathleticshub) July 27, 2024
Iheme is not alone in this new generation of sprinting talent. Sixteen-year-old Australian sprinter Gout Gout has also been making headlines. In March, Gout captured attention at the Queensland Athletics Championships by running the 100m in a blistering 10.29 seconds. Like Iheme, Gout’s speed has drawn comparisons to Bolt, setting the stage for what could become an exciting rivalry in the years to come.
10.30s!!!! 🔥 HE’S DONE IT!
Age 14 World Record ☑️Divine Iheme 🇬🇧 smashes the World Age 14 100m record as he clocks a blistering 10.30s (1.7) at Lee Valley.
The previous record was held by Sachin Dennis 🇯🇲 with 10.51s
10.30s at 14 YEARS OF AGE!! 🔥🤯🤯🤯😱 pic.twitter.com/skczO4Jcrh
— World Athletics Hub (@wldathleticshub) August 26, 2024
The potential for Iheme and Gout to dominate the 100m track for years to come is already being likened to the football rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. With both athletes making waves at such a young age, fans can look forward to a possible duopoly in the sprinting world.
Gout, who has been praised for his speed, has embraced the comparisons to Bolt, while also keeping his own ambitions clear. “It’s pretty cool because Usain Bolt is arguably the greatest athlete of all time and just being compared to him is a great feeling,” Gout said in an interview with news.com.au in April. “Obviously I’m Gout Gout so I’m trying to make a name for myself. If I can get to the level he was that would be a great achievement.”
Gout has also shared his admiration for other sprinters like Erriyon Knighton and Noah Lyles, who won the 100m gold medal at the Paris Olympics. “I like Erriyon Knighton because he is a youngster competing up against the best, and Noah Lyles because he is running crazy times,” Gout added.
With Iheme and Gout blazing a trail on the track, the future of sprinting looks incredibly bright. As they continue to develop and push their limits, the athletics world will be eagerly watching to see if these young talents can one day challenge the legendary records set by Usain Bolt and etch their names into the annals of sporting history.