Zharnel Hughes opened up about a remarkable comparison his coach made between him and an iconic sprinter after a significant milestone.
Britain’s fastest man, Zharnel Hughes, has been attracting attention not only for his speed but also for a striking comparison made by his coach, Glen Mills, who is renowned for shaping the career of sprinting legend Usain Bolt.
In June 2023, Hughes amazed the athletics world by setting a new British 100m record. Reflecting on this achievement, he revealed that Mills sees notable similarities between him and Bolt.
The revelation came as Hughes looked back on his progress after breaking Linford Christie’s 30-year-old national record.
Hughes, 28, ran an impressive time of 9.83 seconds at the New York City Grand Prix, breaking Christie’s long-standing record by 0.04 seconds.
In an interview with Sky Sports in mid-2023, Hughes shared how Mills has been instrumental in his development and the high praise he received.
“He always compares the both of us at times,” Hughes said. “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.”
Being compared to Bolt, regarded as the greatest sprinter in history, is a significant compliment. Mills, who guided Bolt to multiple Olympic and world championship titles, has been overseeing Hughes’ training for years.
For Hughes, the connection to Bolt serves as both motivation and validation of his dedication.
Hughes’ record-setting performance in New York wasn’t a coincidence. In fact, he had predicted the 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 recalled. “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.”
The 9.83-second run was not only a personal victory but also the fastest time globally in 2023, setting Hughes up for a strong performance at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest later that year.
Hughes also paid tribute to Linford Christie, the only British man to win the 100m world title, acknowledging his legacy and support.
“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.”
Looking ahead to the World Championships, Hughes remained dedicated to his 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.”
While Hughes is focused on his future ambitions, the comparisons to Bolt and his recent record-breaking performance have established him as one of the leading sprinters to watch.
Only time will tell if he can reach Bolt’s legendary status, but with Mills guiding him, Hughes’ potential seems limitless.
