The British teenager has shared how he has been learning from Jamaican great Usain Bolt and American legend Allyson Felix before he recently set a new world record for his age group, surpassing Noah Lyles’ previous mark.
Divine Iheme, the world’s youngest 14-year-old sprinting sensation, has opened up about how he draws inspiration from Jamaican icon Usain Bolt and former American sprinter Allyson Felix in his quest to follow in their footsteps.
In a recent race at Leigh Valley, Iheme managed to trim two-tenths of a second off the existing world record for his age group, boosting his confidence to challenge and potentially surpass records set by these sprinting legends.
His impressive time of 10.3 seconds not only eclipsed his own previous best of 10.56 seconds but also outpaced the age-related record set by Olympic champion Noah Lyles, who at that age recorded 11.27 seconds.
The previous record holder, Sachin Dennis, had clocked 10.51 seconds, highlighting the remarkable nature of Iheme’s achievement.
“When I first saw it, I was in utter shock, I couldn’t believe it! I was jumping about, running around, I just felt so happy but I couldn’t have done it without God,” Iheme told Sky Sports News.
He added that Noah Lyles has been a significant source of motivation. “Noah Lyles is a great athlete and he’s given me a lot of confidence to pursue this career, run quicker, get a better time. I feel like it gives me the confidence to break more and more barriers as I go through my journey.”
Iheme also spoke about how Usain Bolt, the world record holder in both the 100m and 200m, has influenced his running style. “I’ve watched quite a lot of Usain Bolt’s races and Allyson Felix’s 200m, 400m and relays,” he said. “Probably the first race I watched was his [Bolt’s] 200m world record, the 19.19, and I was inspired to pursue the dream. I try my best to slingshot off the bend [in 200m] and continue holding first until I cross the finish line.”
Despite his inspirations, Iheme emphasizes his individuality in his approach: “In my opinion, I think my [running style] is unique and natural. I don’t try to model it from anyone.”
With a background in athletics from his parents, who represented Nigeria at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Iheme has opted to represent Britain. There is now growing optimism that he could evolve into a formidable force on the global stage.
