A former Dagenham & Redbridge youngster is making a dramatic late dash into London 2012 contention.
Adam Gemili, who was part of the Daggers’ academy squad last season, produced two sensational sprints at the Sparkassen Gala in Regensburg, Germany, on Saturday.
The 18-year-old achieved the Olympic A standard twice during the meet, first in the heats before going even quicker in the final.
His initial run of 10.11 smashed his previous personal best before he stopped the clock in 10.08 in the final to become the second fastest British junior of all time.
The run lifted him above Mark Lewis-Francis on the British Junior all-time list, with only Dwain Chambers’ 10.06 set in 1997 proving quicker.
Last year’s European Junior silver medallist is the second Briton to achieve the A standard of 10.18 this year, following in the footsteps of James Dasaolu.
His efforts at the weekend mean he could also form part of Britain’s relay team at the Olympics.
Gemili’s achievement currently makes him the fastest runner in Britain and he would be guaranteed an individual place at the Games should he finish in the top two at the trials in Birmingham which start on June 22.
However, six days earlier he has the trials for the World Junior Championships in Bedford, and he insists that is his current focus.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: “I’d love to go to the Olympics, but I don’t want to run half-hearted at the trials.
“I need to go there in good form and confident that I can get through and qualify. I don’t want to be tired from the week before.”
He added: “We’ll have the discussion about if I can cope with it after the junior trials, which remain important to me and my development.
“That is my main target. It would be great to achieve a place at the Olympics, because the trials only come around once every four years. I’ve just got to wait and see how I feel. Right now, I feel great.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here