Athletics: Adam Gemili confident he can break 10 second barrier in 100m
By Dev Trehan
Last Updated: 02/12/14 5:41pm
Adam Gemili is convinced he remains on track to break the 10 second barrier as a 100m sprinter.
The 2012 World Junior Champion enjoyed a breakout year in 2014, setting a personal best of 10.04 in the 100m at a meeting in Germany just before the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
But the 21-year-old is under no illusion about the challenge that lies ahead to compete with the world’s best sprinters.
“I believe I can break that 10 second barrier. It’s only a matter of time. I believe it will come one day but I’m not rushing myself to do it,” Gemili told Sky Sports News HQ.
“I’m capable and I know that I’ve got it in me. I believe in myself and my ability to do it and it’s just about executing it on the right day. When it happens, and if it happens, I will be really pleased especially for my team who have put a lot of hard work into me.
“But there is a lot more to come. I’ve only just turned 21 and I still have a lot of growing to do and progress to make.
“As I do that hopefully I will grow bigger and stronger and get quicker and quicker and become more competitive against the Jamaicans and Americans. They are levels ahead of Great Britain when it comes to sprinting but we are getting there, we are definitely getting there.”
Gemili won silver medals in the 100m and 4x100m relay at Glasgow 2014, following that up by winning gold in the relay and in the 200m at the European Championships in Zurich.
“2014 was a really a good year for me and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow was the first big one for me,” he said, “Winning my first senior medals was absolutely crazy.
“It was quite an experience running the 100m with the Jamaicans and the Trinidadians. I was just hoping to make the final, be competitive and gain experience but I didn’t’ expect to medal at all.
“I was really happy to do that on home soil in Great Britain which is where I’m from, and to take that into the Europeans and win two gold medals was unbelievable.
“You see these guys competing on the TV but you have to go in there as a competitor and not a fan of the sport. I’m excited for next season and that really has given me a confidence boost.”
Gemili was speaking at the 10th annual British Curry Awards where he was a guest of the Weir Archer Academy. The charity was set up last year by six-time Paralympic champion David Weir and his coach Jenny Archer to help develop the next generation of disabled athletes.
