Sprint Queen in the Making: Annabelle Fasuba, Just 13, Shatters National Record Books
At only 13, Annabelle Fasuba has already stamped her name among Britain’s most promising young athletes. Her remarkable 200m time of 24.02 seconds is now the fastest for a British girl aged 15 or under since 1989. Only two names—Katharine Merry, Diane Smith—have ever run faster at that age. But Annabelle’s potential doesn’t stop at the 200m. Her 100m personal best of 11.79 seconds is not only among the top five performances for British under-15s, but also teeters just above the qualifying standard for the last Commonwealth Games.
“She’s 13, just about to turn 14, so those times at that age are phenomenal,” her coach, Neal Edwards, told the BBC. What’s even more astonishing? She’s barely been in structured training. “We haven’t done any really hard training, we haven’t pushed her, we haven’t really stretched her that much, it’s just been about technique,” he added. In just over a year, Annabelle has leaped from schoolyard races to the edge of international qualification.
Fasuba’s Pedigree: Born from Sprinting Legends—Olusoji, Ngozi
Annabelle Fasuba was born into greatness. Her father, Olusoji, is no stranger to the Olympic stage. The 2008 World Indoor 60m champion, he also won an Olympic bronze medal in 2004 in the 4x100m relay and claimed silver at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. His personal best of 9.85 seconds in the 100m—set in 2006—stood as the African record until Akani Simbine broke it in 2021.
Her mother, Ngozi, was also a standout athlete, competing in the 4x400m relay for Nigeria at the 2004 Athens Olympics. “My husband was good, I was good… so Annabelle being fast is not like it’s a surprise,” Ngozi explained. That fusion of speed and experience has clearly passed down to Annabelle, who is now stepping into her parents’ elite footsteps.
Father-Daughter Power: Olusoji Sees a Braver Athlete in Annabelle
Though he now serves in logistics for the Royal Navy, Olusoji continues to be deeply involved in his daughter’s development. Watching her on the track evokes admiration—and a touch of humility. “Looking at her training and what she’s doing at the age of 12 or 13 compares to what I did then, I think she’s braver than me,” he admitted.
He remembered his own youth, noting a striking contrast: “When I was 12 I knew nothing about athletics, I was just playing around in the sand… I never thought about the Olympics or anything.” But now, as a father, he has no doubt Annabelle is set to eclipse his accomplishments. “I think she’s going to achieve more than what I’ve ever done in my career and I think that’s every father’s dream.”
Annabelle’s Own Voice: From Primary School Star to Future Olympian
Annabelle’s journey began in school, where she first realized her speed. “I first realised I was really quick when I was in year six… everyone was asking me why I was so fast when we did sports day,” she said. That early curiosity quickly turned to passion, and now she’s driven by the dream of Olympic glory. “I’m hoping to go to the Olympics to run the 100m and 200m and hopefully win them.”
Unlike many young athletes burdened by pressure, Annabelle thrives on training and competition. Her meteoric rise—fueled by natural talent and guided by technique over strain—has made her one of the most electrifying teenage athletes in Britain today.
Next in Line? Fasuba’s Younger Sister Follows the Sprinting Path
The Fasuba legacy might be far from finished. Annabelle’s younger sister, still in primary school, is already turning heads. “Last Friday she broke the year three record,” Olusoji proudly shared. According to him, her ambition is sky-high. “The dream for her, and she’s already told me this, is to get more medals than I’ve got.”
But for Olusoji, the real dream transcends individual achievement. “For me as a father the greatest achievement for my kids is having my eldest and youngest in the relay team together.” With both sisters showing early signs of greatness, it’s not far-fetched to imagine them lighting up the track on the world’s biggest stage—together.
Racing into Greatness: Annabelle Fasuba, The Teen Sprinter Set to Redefine British Athletics
With Olympians Olusoji, Ngozi in her corner, and expert coaching from Neal Edwards, Annabelle Fasuba isn’t just another teenage runner—she’s a once-in-a-generation talent. Still barely in her teens, she’s already smashing records and daring to dream of Olympic gold. And if her pace continues, Britain’s next track icon might be wearing braces and a school uniform right now.
