Divine Iheme has set British records in the 100m and 200m this year. The 14-year-old is aiming for the 100m world record at the national championships this weekend. He decided to become a sprinter after studying footage of Usain Bolt.
By Richard Damerell
Last updated: 24/07/24 3:33pm
Divine Iheme is aiming for a 100m world record at the national championships.
When you're the fastest 14-year-old in Britain, you need a nickname to match.
“Everyone knows him as ‘Lightning’ Divine, that’s who he is,” said trainer Nkiruku Iheme. Sky Sports Speaking about her son, teenage sprint star Divine Iheme.
After setting British world records in the 100m and 200m in April, 'Lightning' Devine was tipped as a potential track star of the future.
Divine broke his own 100m record last month with a time of 10.65 seconds, and crossed the finish line even faster, but that time was also wind-assisted and did not count towards the record.
Iheme holds the fastest times in Britain in the 100m and 200m for his age group.
But this weekend, while elite sprinters prepare for the Paris Olympics, Iheme will be going for her age group world record at the national championships.
“He looks at the record and says, 'I want to break that,'” Nkirucu said. “He says his goal is to break the world junior U15 (record).
“The world junior record is 10.51 and he's run 10.46 three times but it wasn't legal because the wind was 0.2 but he's capable of doing it.”
The Oxfordshire native also caught the eye in the relay events, blazing a final run to easily overtake his rival county's sizeable lead.
He achieved a sprint double at the British Athletics Indoor Championships, winning the 200m by almost seven metres.
Divine studies video of legendary sprint stars to aid his own incredible progress, but insists he doesn't try to emulate their explosive running methods.
Usain Bolt's legendary achievements inspired Iheme to become a sprinter.
“I watched a lot of Usain Bolt's races and Allyson Felix's 200m, 400m and relay races,” he said. Sky Sports.
“Probably the first race I saw was his (Bolt's) 200m world record of 19.19. That inspired me to chase my dream.
“I try my best to run fast around the curves in the 200m and maintain the lead until I cross the finish line.
“I think my (running style) is unique and natural. I don't try to copy anyone. It's just a God-given talent.”
Her mother, Nkirucu, and father, Innocent Iheme, were both successful athletes and represented Nigeria at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
“The speed he has now, if you look at it from a different perspective, yes. If he keeps doing this, we’re looking at him finishing the season at 10.4, 10.3 (seconds) because he’s got it all,” said Nkiruku, who runs the PWD Athletic Academy.
“There is speed, there is technology.
“He looks at a lot of other players and says, 'I want to beat that guy,' and he looks at the records and says, 'I want to beat that guy.'”
Divine admitted that trying to pursue a full-time track and field career had been “really tough” for him and his family, but he had support from Michael Ofo of SOS Management, who also coaches the career of British heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley.
The 14-year-old is aiming for a world record in the 100m this weekend.
“I always try to make my parents proud. I want to make it so that in the future, they can just sit back and relax. I can buy them gifts, buy them a house, buy them things for the future,” Divine said.
“The goal is to make them happy and help them live great lives.”
If Divine continues to excel in both events and break more national records, there is a good chance Nigeria and England will be looking to the talented teenager.
But Divine has already made that decision.
“Well, I'm from Nigeria, but I was born here. I had free education, free meals. Everyone here looked after me, gave me child support, all that stuff. So I think I'm going to run in Britain. They've been the biggest help to me.”
Dina Asher-Smith will be aiming for a medal at the Paris Olympics.
GB Olympic medal hopeful Dina Asher-Smith has offered words of encouragement to Devine, who will be eagerly watching Team GB cross the Channel in their quest for a medal.
And when the world's best sprinters compete in the 100m final, Divine will be watching, flexing his fast muscles and picturing golden glory.
“I can clearly see myself standing at the starting line,” he said.
“I’m just focused. I’m ready to run the race of my life.”
