Team GB star breaks Christie's 30-year record to become fastest man in 2023

25 June 2023 , 16:47

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Zharnel Hughes ran a time of 9.83 (Image: Rich von Biberstein/Getty Images)

Zharnel Hughes has broken Linford Christie's long-standing British record for the 100 metres by running an eye-catching time of 9.83 in New York.

Hughes blew away the field which contained 2019 world champion Christian Coleman to win at the New York City Grand Prix. The 27-year-old sprinter took a huge chunk off his previous personal best of 9.91, which came back in 2018.

His time of 9.83 is the fastest in the world this year and the second fastest ever by a European athlete, behind Italy's Marcell Jacobs, who ran 9.80 to win Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021.

It also saw him become the fastest British man of all time, overhauling Christie's record of 9.87, which had stood since the 1993 Stuttgart World Championships.

What made his run all the more remarkable was that Hughes had predicted it. "I woke up with a dream this morning," he said. "This morning I woke up with 9.83 on my mind.

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"When I looked at the clock and saw 9.83, I don't know if you saw my reaction, but I was like: 'What just happened there?' It actually came through. Manifestation is real."

He later shared a photo of his prediction on Instagram. In a notebook he had written: "Competition day in New York. I'm going to run 9.83. Have faith. Slowest 9.89-9.91. I am prepared and I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.”

Linford Christie held the British 100m record for 30 years (AFP via Getty Images)

Hughes also paid tribute to Christie, saying he was looking forward to seeing him "shaking his hand and telling him that this is long overdue". He said: "I always give respect to Linford. He always supports me every time I'm in the UK, and sometimes he helps out with my training sessions.”

Despite losing his record, Christie remains the only British man to have ever won World Championship 100m gold, due to that win in Stuttgart, which arrived a year after Olympic gold at Barcelona 1992.

Zharnel Hughes won gold in the 200m at the European Championships last year (Abdulhamid Hosbas/Getty Images)

Hughes’ run impressed legendary American sprinter Michael Johnson, who tweeted: “Middle part of this race is super impressive! This is all down to how this race was executed through each phase.”

Hughes is confident that he can go even faster with the help of his coach, Glen Mills – the man who coached the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt. "Anything is possible," said Hughes. "The great thing is, we haven't started speed work yet, so this is just raw speed and endurance. My coach is going to be elated."

Only 11 Brits have ever run under 10 seconds for the 100 metres and Hughes will now take huge confidence into the World Championships, which take place in Budapest from August 19 to 27.

Felix Keith